Aidy Boothroyd steps up for shortterm England Under21 role

28 September 2016 06:08

Aidy Boothroyd will take charge of the England Under-21 team for their final two Euro 2017 qualifiers following Gareth Southgate's appointment as interim England coach.

The Football Association said the former Watford and Coventry boss will lead England to Kazakhstan on October 6 before returning to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Walsall on October 11.

A point against the Kazakhs will be enough to ensure top spot in Group Nine and automatic qualification for the finals in Poland with a game to spare.

Boothroyd has coached the England Under-20 side since 2014 and was preparing to lead them into a trio of games against Holland, Germany and the United States.

The 45-year-old, who steered Watford into the Premier League in 2006, said he was relishing the opportunity of building on Southgate's work.

Boothroyd told the FA's official website: "Gareth and the players have done a terrific (job) to put us in the position that we're in, so I'm looking forward to the challenge of taking it on.

"That's mixed with a disappointment of how it has all come about, but it's about moving onwards and cracking on with the job, supporting Gareth and seeing if I can contribute towards getting the points that are required and then hand it back over, that's the plan.

"We're in a position, where the under-21s are running a really smooth ship so I'll keep it going in the same direction and work to finish the job off which has been done really well so far.

"It really is a case of keeping it nice and steady and guiding them over the line - that's my role."

In turn, the England Under-20 team will be led into their forthcoming three-game series by Boothroyd's assistant, Paul Williams.

Source: PA