Considering the media circus that surrounds Fabio Capello’s fallen reign over the England squad, it would be easy to think that Euro 2012 starts tomorrow.The British media as expected have already hailed Harry Redknapp as the natural successor to the Italian, mainly thanks to his extraordinary capacity to be English, not just in nationality, but in his gung-ho style and keep-it-simple philosophy.

Redknapp has done a superb job at Tottenham Hotspur and most other places he has managed, but there is no rush to pick the England manager.

The London club, who have always been open to the idea of allowing Redknapp to move into Soho Square and take on “the hardest job in football,” will nonetheless be loathe to lose their manager during a season when the club are challenging for the Premier League title for the first time since the days of Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne over 20 years ago.

And Redknapp also will doubtless be reluctant to back out of such a fruitful situation, having crafted such an exciting team, deep enough to play in the Premier League and Champions League, and stacked with young talent.

He and Tottenham Hotspur have already mentally prepared for his departure, considering the fact that had Capello resigned as planned after Euro 2012 Redknapp was as good as guaranteed the position. And with Jose Mourinho planning a move to the Premier League next season, Tottenham seemed happy to let their man go.

Capello’s early resignation has changed everything. The timing could scarcely have been worse. The obvious successors are in jobs that they are comfortable in and there is a major tournament to prepare for.

Rather than disrupting Redknapp, why not take a short-term option and go ahead as planned and hire the Londoner after Euro 2012?

The usual candidates of Martin O’Neill, Roy Hodgson and Alan Pardew have either just taken up new jobs or have had their reputations damaged enough that the FA won’t touch them. Jose Mourinho would be a legitimate target were it not for the fact that, despite his dislike for his current post at Real Madrid, he isn’t likely to walk away from the challenge of winning a Grand Slam of titles – the top division in Spain, Italy and England – and a third Champions League trophy.

With Mourinho available in the summer and having a history of saying he would one day like to manage the England side, why shouldn’t the FA bring in a short-term stopgap and have the options of Redknapp and The Special One in the summer?

Quality short-term, out of work options do leap to mind. One in particular, Guus Hiddink, has an almost unimpeachable record in international football and has carried a reputation as a short-term fixer.

Believe it or not, Capello will be a tough act to follow. His winning percentage of 66 percent – very apt considering England’s fascination with the number 66 – is the best of any England manager, 5 percent better than ’66 World Cup hero Alf Ramsey, who came up against much easier opposition than Capello had to beat.

For all the negativity surrounding Capello’s handling of team affairs during the World Cup, he instituted a new culture of professionalism in the squad, doing away with agents, mobile phones and WAGs. The very things that Capello was booed for in 2010 – heavy discipline, dictatorial style, stubbornness and pragmatism – were the same qualities for which he was lauded during the World Cup qualification, when England smashed all comers.

As much as some players disliked his style, they still respected him and will look to keep hold of many of the habits he instilled in them. After the shambolic reigns of Steve McLaren and Sven Goran Eriksson, players openly said they preferred Capello’s methodical and professional approach, which much more closely resembled the situations at their clubs.

It will take a coach of Hiddink’s experience and ego to be able to change what needs changing, keep what needs keeping and motivate a group of players who have become paralyzed by the pressures of an expectant nation and an abhorrently fickle press.

Knockout football specialist Rafa Benitez is another option for the post, although he has no experience at the international level.

Capello has made his mark on the squad and there is too little time before Euro 2012 to overhaul it. The FA would be better off having a short-term replacement who can work within the current structure before Redknapp joins after the finals and begins to lay down his plans for the future.

England’s problems go much deeper than just selecting the right manager, so time is very much on the side of the FA.

England under-21 coach Stuart Pearce – who mustn’t be given the job for all our sanities’ sake – will take charge of England’s friendly against the Netherlands on Feb. 29, then the FA has to make a decision.