GARETH SOUTHGATE has received the unequivocal backing of Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt despite England’s struggles in the recent round of matches in the Nations League.

Hewitt insists the FA are not considering a change of manager ahead of this winter’s World Cup in Qatar, even though Southgate was barracked by his own supporters as England crashed to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Hungary at Molineux.

And the FA chief has also claimed the England manager’s IQ and emotional intelligence would make him a chief executive in any sector outside of sport.

Southgate came in for sustained criticism after a disappointing showing for the Three Lions in their four Nations League matches earlier this month, culminating in the home defeat to Hungary that left England at serious risk of suffering relegation to the second tier of teams in the Nations League.

The result sparked a debate over whether Southgate should be sacked ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, which starts in November, with England fans singing ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ during the second half of the game.

Hewitt hailed Southgate’s role in transforming England’s fortunes on the pitch and instilling a healthy culture off it, and said she had spoken to the England boss after the Hungary defeat to reassure him of how highly regarded he still is at the FA.

“My personal opinion on Gareth is that he is, by the facts on the pitch, the most successful England manager we’ve had for 55 years,” said Hewitt, who took over as FA chair in January. “The bit people don’t see as much is the Gareth at camp and the culture he’s created.

“Certainly, prior to Gareth being the manager of England, there was not the pride of wearing the England shirt.

"There were the club rivalries we’d read about. The players not getting on. He’s changed that beyond recognition and I’ve seen that first hand.

“I’d also say that I don’t just work in football, I work in business and I’ve worked with a lot of chief executives and Gareth’s skills — his high IQ and high EQ — would make him a chief exec in any sphere.

“That resilience and accountability (are) the two qualities I admire most.

"There are no slopey shoulders, he doesn’t huff, he’s resilient and that’s what you want in an England manager.”

Hewitt said Southgate’s response to her reassurances were true to form, with the former Middlesbrough manager shouldering the blame for his side’s Nations League struggles.

Southgate signed a new deal until December 2024 late last year, and accepts he must rebuild public confidence ahead of the World Cup, which will see England tackle a group that also features Iran, the United States and Wales.

“Gareth’s reaction, as in everything to that kind of conversation, is always, ‘It’s my accountability, and there’s always something to learn’, added Hewitt.

“That’s why it’s refreshing working with somebody like that because that openness to learn is quite remarkable and quite unusual in any sphere.”

Hewitt said any debate over Southgate’s contractual situation would be a “red herring”, with the current boss due to remain in position through the next round of European Championship qualifiers and the next Euros finals, which are scheduled to take place in Germany in the summer of 2024.

The FA have been criticised for handing Southgate a new long-term contract ahead of a major tournament, which was a mistake they made in the past when Fabio Capello was awarded a lucrative new deal before the 2010 World Cup, which saw England flop badly in South Africa.

It would be difficult and expensive to move Southgate out of his current role if England were to underperform catastrophically in Qatar, but Hewitt is adamant such an eventuality should not come into the FA's thinking when they assess the contractual position of the England boss.

"I don’t think we would be discussing (the contract) had we not had the recent series of games,” said Hewitt, who worked in business with the RAC and Visa before joining the FA.

“Clearly, we did that (agreed the new deal) with proper discussion and thought.

“The fact that there’s been a stumble does not make us automatically say, ‘Should we have given him a contract?’ It is a red herring.

“We have confidence in Gareth for all the reasons I described, and I think that’s the important thing.

"And it’s particularly important going into the biggest tournament.”