England fans: let off steam here

Steve McClaren has had his contract as England manager terminated by the FA.

The decision was taken at an emergency board meeting at Soho Square this morning after last night's desperate defeat to Croatia which wrecked England's hopes of qualifying for the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland next year.

The board — headed by Geoff Thompson, the chairman, and Brian Barwick, the chief executive — voted to terminate McClaren’s £2.5 million-a-year deal, which ran until 2010, after discussing a severance package with his agent, Colin Gordon. Martin O’Neill, the Aston Villa manager, is the early favourite to be McClaren's replacement.

Expert View

English football has to be better than this; and, when it is not, the man in charge knows what to expect

Martin Samuel

• More

• Post a comment

BACKGROUND

• McClaren sacked as England coach

• Dismissal is no compensation for England fans

• Jitters destroy England’s composure

• Turnip or terrific? Fans give answer to McClaren

BACKGROUND

• How England rated

• If O’Neill says no, will the FA call Klinsmann?

• Terry defends man in charge

• Why England will be sorely missed in finals

BACKGROUND

• Let’s not just blame the team, blame the Americans too

• Good riddance to fear factors

• Echoes of Bogota as Croatia official is accused of shoplifting

• Seven deadly sins

BACKGROUND

• McClaren: the buck stops with me

• Analysis: Gabriele Marcotti

• 'Not even prepared to get his hair wet!' - the fans' verdict

• Barwick: McClaren had to go

BACKGROUND

• England's qualifying horrors

Multimedia

• England fans: let off steam here

• How the drama unfolded

• Is McClaren a scapegoat?

Multimedia

• What you should do next summer

Related Links

• McClaren: the buck stops with me

• Barwick: McClaren had to go

• Jitters destroy England’s composure

Multimedia

• England fans: let off steam here

"At a meeting this morning, The FA board unanimously decided to terminate the contract of England head coach Steve McClaren with immediate effect," Thompson said. "The board also terminated the contract of assistant coach Terry Venables.

"The board have agreed that there will now be a full root and branch examination of the whole England senior team set-up, which will begin with immediate effect. This will be led by Brian Barwick reporting into the chairman, who will update the board.

"Chief executive Brian Barwick has been given authority to identify the new head coach and to report back to the board with his recommendation. There is no definitive timeframe for the recruitment of the new coach.

"Like every England fan, we are all bitterly disappointed that we have failed to qualify for Euro 2008, and I know Steve feels that disappointment more than anyone.

"Of course we have no divine right to play in major tournaments, but it is quite right that qualification is expected.

"I would like to thank Steve for the work he has done since taking on the position last summer. His commitment to the job could not be questioned and I wish him the best for the future.

"The recruitment process for the new coach begins now and we will do everything to get the right man for the job."

Barwick, who was seen as the man who appointed McClaren, added: "I don't regret [appointing him in the first place]. He tried his hardest.

"Last night was a tough, tough night to take. We understand that we have let the fans down and we apologise for that."

McClaren insisted last night that he would not stand down, saying it was too early to make a judgment on his future, but he was resigned to his fate.

England needed only a point against Croatia to secure their place at Euro 2008, but they made the worst possible start, going 2-0 down inside 14 minutes as Scott Carson, promoted in place of Paul Robinson, endured a torrid competitive debut in goal.

David Beckham, another who was jettisoned from the starting line-up by McClaren, helped to inspire a second-half fightback, a penalty by Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch’s volley putting England back on course for qualification at 2-2, but Carson was beaten again with 13 minutes remaining when Mladen Petric, a Croatia substitute, scored from 25 yards to ensure that Russia, 1-0 winners away to Andorra, will join his team in the finals.

Inevitably, McClaren was subjected to the derision of the crowd at the final whistle, but he insisted that he would not resign. “No, I’ve got no intention of doing that and I’ve also got no intention of discussing my future,” he said. “I understand the question, but I don’t think this is the time, so near after a huge disappointment. This is the sort of thing for reflection, something we’ll discuss later on. Tonight is a case of analysing that rollercoaster game.”

McClaren did, however, admit that the buck would stop with the head coach, as it did when Graham Taylor paid the price for England’s failure to reach the 1994 World Cup finals, the last time they missed out on a leading tournament. “I accept the responsibility,” he said. “Ultimately, I said judge me over the 12 games. We deserve to be where we finish, so we don’t deserve to qualify. That’s my responsibility.”

Steven Gerrard said that the players should shoulder some of the blame for an awful campaign, but he struggled to express support for his coach immediately after the defeat.

It may also be the end for Beckham, who won his 99th cap as a half-time substitute, but the former captain insisted that his international career was not over. “I don’t think it will be my last game,” Beckham, 32, said. “I want to play for my country and I don’t see why it should be my last game.” Whatever Beckham’s future, for England it is goodnight Vienna, goodbye Geneva and, in the eyes of the team’s more unforgiving supporters, good riddance to McClaren.