Newcastle fear an imminent FA approach for Bobby Robson to take over as caretaker England boss.

Robson yesterday flatly refused to discuss whether he's the short-term solution to the FA's problem.

"Don't ask me about England. All I'm prepared to talk about is Newcastle," he said.

Newcastle are nervous that any move for the 67-year-old manager could again whet Robson's appetite for international football on a permanent basis.

That's why they have moved to head off any talk of a long-term appointment.

They expect Robson to show the same loyalty to his home-town club as he showed to Barcelona when the Geordies first approached him three years ago.

Peter Shreeves believes the FA are making a big mistake if they cross Terry Venables from the short-list to be England coach.

The FA have not officially ruled any candidate out of the running to succeed Kevin Keegan.

But a carefully-worded statement from Lancaster Gate, listing the desired attributes of a new boss, suggests any thoughts of an England recall for the popular Londoner have been dismissed.

Shreeves, who has worked closely at club level with both Venables and his England successor Glenn Hoddle, has no doubts about the suitability of his former Tottenham boss.

Shreeves said: ''We're looking for a football coach, not a bank manager or an English teacher, and if you're looking for a football coach Terry Venables is the outstanding candidate.

''Of all the coaches I've worked with he is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best.

''He is very lively. He has flair and imagination and he has the experience to stand him in good stead.''

The FA's statement, released after chief executive Adam Crozier's first meeting with his six-man think tank, stressed the need for someone with ''integrity'' and who can ''focus solely on the job''.

Venables was hounded out of the England post in 1996 with court cases looming from various business interests. His subsequent football ventures with Australia, Portsmouth and Crystal Palace all ended unhappily.

Venables insists there are no more skeletons in his cupboard but former friend and business partner Eddie Ashby plans to publish a book revealing his dealings with the former England coach.

The FA seem destined to turn away from the archetypal English manager after Keegan's short reign proved a patriotic call to arms rarely outwits technically and tactically superior opponents.

They are looking towards the new breed of academic manager with European experience, public relations chic and a tactical brain tuned into modern international football.

In the absence of Arsene Wenger, Lazio's Sven Goran Eriksson has become the favourite together with former Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson, now in charge of FC Copenhagen.