THE clamour for England to get rid of Sven Goran Eriksson as national manager has been in the headlines long before that dismal defeat in Belfast on September 7 ignited public opinion.

Before Wanderers' clash with West Ham at Upton Park on August 27 boss Alan Pardew right was already telling the Bolton Evening News that Sam Allardyce would be an ideal replacement.

The Hammers chief said the Football Association stooped to an all-time low when they appointed the Swede four years ago and believes the mistake should be corrected next time round - with the Wanderers' boss in the frame.

"I'm a great believer it should be an Englishman, I think there's enough talent in the country for it to be English and Sam certainly fits into that group," Pardew said before going head to head with Allardyce in the Premiership clash at Upton Park on August 27.

Pardew insists he does not have personal issues with Eriksson, but he considers the reputation of England managers to have been set back years by the appointment of a foreign coach.

Eriksson took charge in January 2001 when England's World Cup qualifying hopes were receding, but he salvaged that campaign and took the team to the quarter-finals in the Far East, before again reaching the last eight at Euro 2004.

Such success and the emergence of Wayne Rooney has established England among the favourites for next summer's World Cup, but Pardew remains frustrated the FA opted to look abroad for Kevin Keegan's successor.

"It's the worst thing we did because it put down English managers," said Pardew.

"We've always done well internationally with coaches and managers, and people that have gone abroad have done fantastic jobs.

"That stopped because our standing in the football world went down when we took a national manager from another country."

The former Reading boss, who has seen the newly-promoted Hammers take four points from their first two Premiership games, believes Allardyce has all the traits required to be a successful England boss when Eriksson departs.

The 57-year-old Swede is contracted until the 2008 World Cup, and chief executive Brian Barwick stressed the FA are keen for him to remain in charge until that time.

Allardyce will be among the leading contenders after takling Wanderers from the old Division One to UEFA Cup qualification in less than six years, declining offers from elsewhere to stay at the Reebok where his achievements have been widely praised.

Pardew is delighted to hear the Bolton boss being touted as a potential international manager, with Barwick stating earlier this month that the FA would look for an English replacement when Eriksson departs.

"I'm glad he (Barwick) said that, as he's absolutely right," Pardew told the League Managers Association website.