Beckham: FA upheaval won't bother players

England skipper David Beckham insists the recent upheaval at the Football Association will have no effect on the players.

It is a time of change at the FA following the departures of technical director Howard Wilkinson, chief executive Adam Crozier and coach Steve McClaren.

But Beckham, who joins England’s get-together today ahead of the squad’s visit to Buckingham Palace, is adamant that the players are indifferent to the comings and goings.

“Whatever goes on in the FA doesn’t affect the players or the management,” Beckham told TheFA.com.

“Our game is football and the manager’s job is picking the team, so whatever goes on outside that is none of ours, or the manager’s, business.”

Beckham, who will not take part in any training because he is currently sidelined by a rib injury, is very much in favour of the current get-together as a means of improving team spirit – although he concedes he would prefer to be playing in a friendly.

“I think it’s always important for the (England) team to meet up – especially because our last game was a month ago and the next game is not until the new year.

“I would have preferred us to play a game, but there isn’t one, so we will go there, train together and bond.

“Mr Eriksson is the one who has formed the team spirit between the lads and the staff. We have that at Manchester United, but you don’t always get it in international teams.”