Michael Owen has appealed for Sven-Goran Eriksson to be shown total support between now and the end of England's World Cup campaign.
With head coach Eriksson having this week declared his intention to stand down after this summer's finals in Germany, however England perform, Owen stressed now was the time to get behind the team and management.
The Newcastle United striker also said it would make little difference whether or not the Football Association decided to appoint an English coach as Eriksson's successor or replace the Swede with another foreigner.
But 25-year-old Owen is concerned that further adverse publicity concerning the England manager during the final six months of his tenure could have a disastrous impact on the team's hopes of returning from Germany as world champions.
"It shouldn't affect us, but it'll affect us if we don't stop talking about it, and everyone just gets behind the team and everyone else for the World Cup," said Owen.
"We don't want to use that as an excuse if we don't do well, so we'd prefer to just concentrate on the football side."
Owen believes there could even be a certain advantage in the situation if history can repeat itself.
"I think at Euro 96 when I think the country knew that Terry Venables was going to leave, and then again the World Cup in 1990 with Bobby Robson. On both occasions they got to the semi-finals," he said. "If that's anything to go by then hopefully we can go another step."
Owen was adamant Eriksson's successor need not be English.
"I think the best possible man for the job is always the case in any walk of life," said the striker.
