MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club stayed silent last night as speculation continued to link Boro boss Steve McClaren with the England job.

Bookmakers installed McClaren as one of the favourites to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson after this summer's World Cup. Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was the early favourite, at odds of 5-2, followed by Alan Curbishley (3-1) and McClaren (7-2).

Punters wanting a more speculative bet could get odds of 25-1 on Sir Bobby Robson leaving his advisory role with the Republic of Ireland.

Ladbrokes were also giving the same odds for ex-Boro boss Bryan Robson, 66-1 on Newcastle star Alan Shearer and 100-1 on Kevin Keegan coming out of retirement.

Last November, it was announced that McClaren had agreed a four-year deal with Boro.

But last night, there was confusion after Boro chief executive Keith Lamb revealed on a radio phone-in that the contract had not, in fact, been signed due to a technicality.

Middlesbrough have vied with England for McClaren's attention since he took over at the Riverside in June 2001.

The former Manchester United assistant was Eriksson's right-hand man when he took charge of the national side and will be a prominent member of the backroom staff when England travel to Germany for the World Cup finals.

Neither manager nor club would comment last night, but when his contract extension was announced, McClaren said: "It must be everyone's ambition to either play for their country or manage it. I'm no different to anyone else."

Steve Gibson said: "One day, I want Steve McClaren to be the manager of England. But only when the time is right for him and he will know when that is."