Harry Redknapp acknowledges that he is the popular choice to succeed Fabio Capello as manager of England but believes it would be impossible for him to do the job on a part-time basis.
Redknapp has been the bookies favourite to take over the Three Lions after this summer's Euro 2012 Championships, but Capello's sudden resignation earlier this month has left the FA with a tough decision - appoint an interim manager or try to prise Redknapp away from Tottenham.
The White Hart Lane outfit are enjoying one of their best-ever seasons challenging for the Premier League title and a Champions League spot and Redknapp insists it would not be fair on the club if he were to walk away now.
"I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't the popular choice. I know I am, it's been everywhere, in every paper every day," Redknapp told Abu Dhabi Sports.
"But it's not an easy one. I have a good job and I work with good people and I have a good team. The fans have been fantastic to me. Just to walk away now, when we're in such a good position, it wouldn't be fair, it wouldn't be fair on Tottenham. I have to really keep focusing on Tottenham.
"This week we have Stevenage in the Cup, then we have Man Utd, then we have Arsenal, then we have Chelsea. We have some fantastic games. It's important time for me with Tottenham."
It has been suggested Redknapp could do both jobs until the summer but he has made it clear that is not an option.
"Part-time? In the short term I think it's possible for the European Championships. But I think in the long-term it's not possible to manage a club team and manage a national team," he went on.
"It's difficult enough to manage in the Premier League without having to worry about managing the England team as well. You want to be watching England players play, you want to be watching the opposition.
"I think, whoever they give the job to could only do the one job. Maybe for the Euros, it's not such a problem but once the Euros are finished and the new season starts in England, the manager has to be a Premier League manager - if it's someone who manages in the Premier League - or the England manager. To do the two jobs, it would be impossible."