Capello decision shocks Wilshere (From Croydon Guardian)

Capello decision shocks Wilshere

8:14pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in National Sport News © Press Association 2011

Jack Wilshere admitted his shock at Fabio Capello's resignation as England manager on Wednesday.

Capello resigned following a meeting with Football Association chiefs at Wembley Stadium.

Arsenal midfielder Wilshere, 20, won his first cap under Capello against Hungary in August 2010 and said on Twitter: "Shocked about news on Fabio Capello...gutted to be honest, gave me my 1st cap and believed in me! Thank you Mr Capello! #GreatManager."

Harry Redknapp was immediately installed as favourite to take over from Capello and lead England into this summer's European Championships, and former FA chief executive David Davies claimed he would find the England job too tempting to turn down and Tottenham would be reluctant to stand in his way.

"Given the bizarre coincidence of the two events that came together today (Capello's resignation and Redknapp's acquittal) the odds have to be that Harry Redknapp will be the next manager of the England team," Davies said on Sky News. "I think there are one or two other strong candidates, but there is a momentum now behind Harry Redknapp that the FA will find hard to resist.

"My instinct is that someone like Harry Redknapp ultimately will not want to turn down the job of England manager and my instinct is that Tottenham Hotspur ultimately will not want to stand in his way."

Like Wilshere, Tottenham defender Kyle Walker took to Twitter to express his disappointment at Capello's departure, and posted: "Gutted to see Fabio Capello go he put a lot of trust in me and gave me my first cap just want to say a big thanks really.."

Former England captain Gary Lineker backed Walker's club boss for the top job, claiming he could manage both England and Spurs in the short term. He tweeted: "As you ask I think new man should be English. Players have to be, so should boss. HR the man if he wants it. He can do both jobs til May."

QPR midfielder Joey Barton was typically forthright in his assessment of where tonight's developments, which followed John Terry being stripped of the captaincy, left the England team. "Well, well, well, this debacle claims yet another victim. Where does this stop. #madness," he said on Twitter. "No captain and no manager. 4 months from a major championship. What's going on......."

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who earlier revealed he was not interested in taking over the captaincy from Terry, tweeted: "So Capello resigns....what now...."