England fans: let off steam here

Steve McClaren accepted full responsibility for England’s Euro 2008 failure after he was dismissed as head coach this morning.

The FA brought a swift end to his 18-match reign at an emergency meeting when his position had become untenable after the 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley last night. Terry Venables, the assistant coach, also lost his job in what was a unanimous decision by the FA board.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, McClaren offered no excuses for the team’s tame performance in qualifying and admitted that the FA had every right to relieve him of his duties. However, he rejected the suggestion that he had refused to resign in order to obtain a better financial settlement.

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Martin Samuel

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• England fans: let off steam here

"First of all can I say this is one of the saddest days of my career,” McClaren said. “Eighteen months ago [when he was appointed] was the proudest day of my career and I was honoured to be the England head coach and for 18 months I've enjoyed every minute.

“It is a sad day to have been relieved of my duties but I understand the decision of the FA.

"With regret, unfortunately we didn't qualify and we've come to this situation. Brian phoned me this morning [at 9.30] and told me after the meeting of the decision.

And McClaren refused to blame the players for his dismissal. "The support from the players has been fantastic," he said. "I've worked with them for six years now and the players I've worked with, no matter what people say and the criticism coming their way, they are a fantastic bunch of players. I can't criticise anybody.

"I said at the beginning it was my responsibility, I would live and die by results and results haven't gone my way."

At just 18 games, McClaren's reign was the shortest tenure of any England coach. Brian Barwick, the FA chief executive, admitted that it was McClaren's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 cost him his job. "It was a board decision - it was unanimous," Barwick said. "I spoke to Steve this morning - we get on very well with him. I've had many grown-up conversations and had another one with him this morning - and I can only wish him well.

"But in the end, not qualifying for Euro 2008 comes up short. Qualification for a major tournament is probably a minimum requirement."

Barwick admitted the task of finding a new manager would be handled differently to the last appointment. "The recruitment process for the new coach begins now and we will do everything to get the right man for the job," he said. "It will be done differently. We've got to learn lessons from the way we did it.

"I don't think nationality will be an issue."

Geoff Thompson, the FA chairman said: "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."

Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, and Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill are the bookies' favourites to succeed McClaren, while Fabio Capello, who left Real Madrid last season, has already signalled his interest in the job.

McClaren, the former Middlesbrough manager, said that he had not considered resigning from his post, despite the humiliating defeat by Croatia at Wembley last night. “I’ve never walked away from anything and I would never intend to,” he said. “There was no reason to. The decision was taken out of my hands, but it was never mine.”

When McClaren was pressed on whether there was a financial motivation to his decision, he said: “Absolutely not. I have said that I would never walk away from this job it’s a great job and one that I would never walk away from.”

However, McClaren refused to blame injuries to key players for the debacle. “I'm not making any excuses, we had enough games to do it," he said.

McClaren, 46, who had a deal until 2010, is expected to be paid more than £2 million in compensation, but Barwick said he did not regret giving him a four-year contract. "The contract is a private contract. I don't regret that now. I think he has tried very hard."