January 25 2007

Peter Taylor

Peter TAYLOR has stepped down from the England U21 manager's job.

TAYLOR quit the role so he can concentrate fully on getting Palace into the Championship play-offs.

He has missed the last two international fixtures to be with the Eagles and has decided to make that move permanent.

"It was a very hard decision and to me, it was going to happen after June but it wouldn't be right for me to be with the Under 21s in early February and not to be here at Palace," he said.

"It was my decision and I will certainly miss the involvement with the Under 21s because they have been absolutely excellent.

"I did want to go to the tournament but I feel that whoever goes to the tournament should be preparing the team now.

"I wouldn't be happy preparing the team there and not being here, so I made the decision."

Trevor Brooking, the FA's head of football development, said: "We respect Peter's wishes and appreciate the wonderful job he has done.

"We didn't want to keep making arrangements for one game at a time and the Under 21s need to know who will be getting them ready for a very important tournament in June."

TAYLOR has steered the young Lions to the European Under 21 Championships in Holland in June.

He lost seven out of 44 matches in two spells in charge and STUART Pearce and Steve Tilson are in the running to replace him.