The Football Association are aiming to open negotiations with England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce over a new contract in January.
Pearce's present deal expires after next summer's European Under-21 Championships in Denmark, by which time he will have been in the job for over four years.
With a third major tournament to mastermind, a bid to host the 2013 tournament about to be decided upon in January and a coach still to appoint for the Great Britain Olympic team, the FA are anxious to get one part of a complex puzzle sorted out.
Director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking is plotting a future he hopes will end in glory at the 2018 World Cup that will now be held in Russia.
"Stuart is focused on the summer tournament," said Brooking.
"But his contract runs out next summer, so we have to look at that in the new year.
"We are bidding for the 2013 Under-21 Championships as well and we also have the Olympics, so we will have to see what is decided with that.
"But Stuart has been involved with a lot of those younger players. and I am sure he will want to know what is going on.
"A lot will revolve around him over the next six months. We trust each other and we will move it along."
Source: PA
