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Difficult to continue Barnet role, says England C boss

Photo by Mark TatemEngland C coach Paul Fairclough (left) and striker Andre Gray take part in a training session at the National Sports Centre earlier this week.

England C head coach Paul Fairclough is contemplating stepping down from his position as director of football at Barnet.With Barnet suffering relegation to the Conference — the same level he selects the majority of his England C squad from — Fairclough said he would feel uncomfortable performing both roles.“Of course I’ve got to look at that,” he told The Royal Gazette. “I don’t think I would personally feel comfortable having a full role with Barnet (while being England C manager).”While Fairclough’s aware how continuing both roles might be considered a conflict of interests, he pointed out he had only ever signed one England C player for Barnet.“In the past I think me being England C coach has hindered Barnet rather than helped them,” said Fairclough, whose England C team beat Bermuda 6-1 at the National Sports Centre earlier this week.“I’ve got scruples, I could easily try and put all these lads in a Barnet shirt but I would never do that.“I don’t even talk to the players about that sort of thing — I just wouldn’t do that. I’ve been manager of this team for ten years and I’ve only ever signed one player from England C.”Although the 63-year-old performed both roles when Barnet were previously in the Conference, he said he didn’t think it would be feasible this time around.“I did it before ... I was manager of the England C team and Barnet when they were in the Conference and I had six Barnet players in the team.“I would think it’s going to be very difficult.”The former Stevenage Borough manager said even if he decided to quit his full-time post at Barnet he would maintain strong links with the club.“I’ll always have links with Barnet, for sure,” he said. “I took them into the Football League and I’m very passionate about the football club — I’ll always have big links there.”Barnet coach Edgar David’s has vowed to lead the club back to the League Football.The Dutch legend joined the club as player-manager last October.