Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard has rejected claims by Harry Redknapp that he sent the manager a text message hoping that he would become the new Three Lions boss.
The now Queens Park Rangers manager has claimed in his autobiography that he received messages from Gerrard and Wayne Rooney when he was tipped to take over from Fabio Capello, before Roy Hodgson was appointed.
"I can clear it up," Sky Sports News quotes Gerrard as saying. "I didn't text Harry Redknapp's personal phone, I have never had his personal number, but I am a big fan of Harry's and close friends with Jamie [Redknapp].
"I had a conversation with Jamie round about that time when Harry was on everyone's lips. He was the favourite and it was only a matter of days before he was going to be manager. I said to Jamie on the phone 'send the best to your dad and, if he gets the job, we'll all back him and we'll support him'.
"Very soon after that, the FA decided that Roy Hodgson would be the next manager and I think, from the first conversation I had with Roy, I tried to back him and give him my best, and I was absolutely delighted he got the job."
Gerrard will lead England out against Montenegro in their penultimate World Cup qualifier at Wembley on Friday.
Danielle Joynson
