AN EX-GRAVESEND footballer is likely to be the next England manager.

The FA announced on Sunday it was approaching only Croydon-born Roy Hodgson, 64, for the job, having received permission to approach him from his current club, West Brom.

Mr Hodgson spent two years at Gravesend and Northfleet FC – Now Ebbsfleet United - in his twenties from 1969 to 1971 after being released by Crystal Palace.

He played in more than 50 games, scoring once.

Club director Jessica McQueen said: “Obviously the club is extremely proud to be associated with anything to do with the prospective England manager.

“Although he’s the high profile one at the moment, we have had some over the years like Jimmy Bullard and Jimmy Logie.

“He wasn’t with us for very long. He played for us between 1969 and 1971 and helped us get promoted to the Southern Premier League. It was a good season for us.”