The FA is concerned that Gareth Southgate, who emerged as a heroic combination of Richard the Lionheart and Graham the therapist from Jeremy Kyle during England's World Cup run, could be poached by a Premier League team launching fistfuls of money at him.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn has admitted that it "can never compete" with the dumptrucks of cash available to Premier League clubs, and that Southgate - who's currently on about £1.8 million a year with performance-related bonuses on top of that - might have his head turned.

"I want to pay my staff competitively so they are not a flight risk, but I also recognise we are a sports governing body and we're not a Manchester United," Glenn said, the BBC reports.

"We can never compete with the Premier League in terms of pay - everyone knows that.

"At some point, Gareth may choose that he wants to try something different and we'll find someone else."

The FA wants Southgate to stay as England manager well beyond the end of his current contract in 2020, and Glenn described Southgate as "the definition of the modern manager we want".

Glenn also said that Southgate "loved the World Cup", which is heartening. Didn't we all, eh? Didn't we all. Don't walk away from the giddy, irregular fun of international football just because Watford offer you billions of pounds, a solid gold house and a rocket car, Gareth. We need this.