SOUTHEND United boss Phil Brown is hoping the appointment of Gareth Southgate as England manager will lead to more home-grown coaches being given chances at the top.

Just five British managers are currently in charge of Premier League teams.

And Brown is keen for Southgate to succeed to show English managers are just as talented as their foreign counterparts.

“I’m pleased an Englishman has got the job and I really hope he does well so that it can lead to other English and British managers getting an opportunity at Premier League level and with a big club too,” said Brown.

“We don’t have enough British managers at the top of the game and I would love to see that change.

“Hopefully Gareth doing well could change that and show what’s possible for an Englishman to do and I love to see the national team do well so I wish him all the very best.

“I’ve locked horns with him quite a few times over the years, mainly when he was at Middlesbrough, but I was astounded when he said he didn’t want the job before Sam Allardyce got it.

“For me being England manager is the pinnacle of your career for any Englishman so I didn’t understand it.

“But less than a year later he’s in charge so maybe it was a masterstroke from him.”

Southgate signed a four-year deal yesterday after his nomination as Allardyce’s successor was nodded through during an FA board meeting at St George’s Park.

Southgate became interim manager in September, stepping up from his role as under-21 boss, winning two and drawing two of his four games in charge and was the only candidate interviewed for the job.

Southgate said: “I am extremely proud to be appointed England manager.

“However, I’m also conscious that getting the job is one thing, now I want to do the job successfully.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the players over these past four games and I think there’s huge potential.

“I’m determined to give everything I have to give the country a team that they’re proud of and one that they’re going to enjoy watching play and develop.

“For me, the hard work starts now.”

The finer points of the new contract have not been made public.

But it is understood 46-year-old Southgate will earn around £2million a year, four times his previous salary and higher than the initial forecasts.