Bristol City assistant head coach Paul Simpson is among the contenders to be the next England Under-21 manager should Aidy Boothroyd's contract not be renewed, according to the Daily Mail.
It's been widely reported by multiple outlets that Boothroyd's future is uncertain following a poor performance in the group stage of the European Under-21 Championship with England having lost 1-0 to Switzerland and 2-0 to Portugal, with two largely disjointed performances.
Boothroyd, who is out of contract this summer, has one of the most talented Under-21 squads in a generation but the Young Lions, who face Croatia tomorrow, look to be bowing out at the first hurdle having also gone out in the group stage at the 2019 tournament in Italy and San Marino.
The Mail's report has spelled out the list of candidates being considered by FA Technical Director John McDermott, should they bring an end to the Boothroyd project after five years, with former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, Swansea City boss Steve Cooper, QPR's Mark Warburton and Simpson named.
Before he was recruited by City last summer, to assist Dean Holden's graduation from assistant to head coach of the Robins, Simpson was in charge of the England Under-20s for three years.
Simpson successfully led England to the U20 World in South Korea in 2017, an achievement that has given him a lasting reputation within the corridors of power at the FA, who also encourage a process of progression through the age groups both in players and coaches.
Lampard was dismissed by Chelsea in January and would be the headline name, but equally the 41-year-old may not be ready to move into international management and may have club offers in the summer.
Like Simpson, Cooper is also a product of the England system having won the Under-17 World Cup. But his work at the Liberty Stadium where he has maintained the Swans, against strict budgetary controls, as credible promotion contenders, makes him unlikely to want to return to the England set-up.
Although Simpson and Keith Downing were employed by City to work alongside Holden, they have developed and maintained a strong working relationship with his successor, Nigel Pearson.
However, there is also the possibility that this summer, Pearson - should an extension to his contract be, as expected, agreed - may look to bring in his own staff.
Pearson has traditionally worked with Craig Shakespeare as his No2, at Hull City, Leicester and Watford, but the 57-year-old is presently part of Dean Smith's staff at Premier League Aston Villa, the club he grew up supporting.
