Sir Alex Ferguson is the latest figure to have thrown his weight behind the case for Sam Allardyce to be the next England boss.

The Football Association have begun the search for a successor to Roy Hodgson, who resigned in the aftermath of the Three Lions’ Euro 2016 exit on Monday.

Under-21s head coach Gareth Southgate has turned the position down, while Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand have thrown their hat in the ring.

Sources have claimed senior England internationals would prefer Arsene Wenger to land the role.

Jurgen Klinsmann and Laurent Blanc have entered the running.

But Sunderland manager Allardyce continues to figure highly with the bookies’, with odds as short as 6/1.

Jermain Defoe and Kevin Davies have both backed the 62-year-old for the job.

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And a report in The Sun on Friday claims Ferguson will recommend Allardyce as the ideal candidate when his advice is sought by David Gill.

A former chief executive at Manchester United, Gill retains a close relationship with Ferguson and as vice-chairman at the FA has been tasked - with FA CEO Martin Glenn and FA technical director Dan Ashworth - with finding a new England head coach.

He is sure to seek the Scotsman’s counsel, and sources close to Fergie suggest his sole answer will be: Allardyce.