Reed among 'final four' for FA technical director role

According to 'Sky Sports News', the final four candidates for the position are as follows:

• Kevin Thelwell, currently sporting director of Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Mark Warburton, fomer Rangers and Brentford manager
• Matt Crocker, currently head of development at the FA
• Les Reed, former vice-chairman of Southampton 

Dan Ashworth had been occupying the role, having much success working with England manager Gareth Southgate, as the team reached the World Cup semi-finals in th summer.

Yet Ashworth called time on his association with the FA in order to pursue an identical role with Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Football Association are hoping to secure Ashworth's replacement before the new year, in order to make a smooth transition to the new leadership and direction of proceedings. 

Former Southampton vice-chairman, Reed, left his post with the south coast club after a succession of bad results, which prompted the ownership to move in a different direction at board level. 

Reed previosuly held the FA post between 2002-04, and is once more available for employment after his eight year stay at Southampton was abruptly ended last month. 

QPR' s technical director Les Ferdinand was also considered for the position, having undergone an interview in early November. Yet the FA decided that he was not the right man for the job "at this time."