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GIVE US A BREAK

England’s under-fire technical director Dan Ashworth claims The FA are on board with a winter break in the Premier League

Ashworth was on three-man committee that appointed Sam Allardyce as Three Lions boss and now backs mid-season rest

England manager Roy Hodgson speaks with FA Director of Elite Development Dan Ashworth

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DAN ASHWORTH insists there is NO opposition to a winter break.

The FA technical director says the  Premier League are on board with a mid-season interval  in the hope of helping the national  team perform better at finals.

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Wayne Rooney captain England to one of their most humiliating tournament experiences as they crashed out of Euro 2016 to minnows IcelandCredit: Getty Images
 Once again Premier League stars like Wayne Rooney and Eric Dier suddenly lost all their domestic form and confidence in France and came home in shame
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Once again Premier League stars like Wayne Rooney and Eric Dier suddenly lost all their domestic form and confidence in France and came home in shameCredit: Getty Images
 FA bigwig Dan Ashworth and former manager Roy Hodgson in happier times before the masterminded the shambles at Euro 2016
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FA bigwig Dan Ashworth and former manager Roy Hodgson in happier times before the masterminded the shambles at Euro 2016Credit: Getty Images

Ashworth said: “There is not one person in opposition to it.

“There is incredible pressure   to make sure all those competitions are maximised — so having a break some Saturday fixtures go, or Cup replays go.

“The will is there from everybody to sit down and maximise those 12 months.

“There isn’t one blocker or block, it’s just about trying to be sensible. It’s not about putting pressure on the Premier League. The relationship with the league is probably the best it has  been.”

Ashworth was part of the three-man panel that appointed Sam Allardyce.

He added: “My personal view — and that of the panel — is that the manager of the England team should be English.

“It was very important for us that the pinnacle of the coaching,  the England senior job, was English.

“We’ve built St George’s Park for coach education, for  teams, for the players — and we’re encouraging everybody who wants a role in coaching to  get  qualifications.”

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