FA unanimous in decision to sack McClaren

Steve McClaren was today sacked as England manager, the Football Association announced.

A hastily arranged FA board meeting at Soho Square rubber-stamped McClaren's departure after just 18 games in charge, the shortest tenure of any coach in the post.

McClaren's time in office came to a humiliating end last night with a 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley which ended England's hopes of reaching Euro 2008.

FA chairman Geoff Thompson said: "At a meeting of the FA board this morning the FA board unanimously decided to terminate the contract of England head coach Steve McClaren with immediate effect.

"We have also terminated the contract of assistant Terry Venables, also with immediate effect."

At a meeting this morning, The FA Board unanimously decided to terminate the contract of England head coach Steve McClaren with immediate effect.

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."

McClaren refused to resign immediately after the game, but it appeared only a matter of time before he was dumped.

All the major FA powerbrokers were at Soho Square for an 0830 meeting, and the speed with which they have arranged a press conference suggested McClaren's future was not even a matter of debate.

With the FA delegation due to head to Durban for Sunday's 2010 World Cup draw tomorrow night, McClaren's position needs to be clarified - and it is inconceivable he will not be told to clear his desk, with the execution likely to be swift.

For all his failure to guide England to the European Championships as planned - which will cost the FA a minimum of £8million - McClaren does not deserve to have the matter dragged out, and the FA will want to spare him the embarrassment of having to board a flight to Durban tomorrow for Sunday's World Cup qualifying draw.

A handsome payout will cushion the blow to McClaren's ego - and given his excellent coaching credentials before taking the England job, it should not be too long before he is back in work.

But for Barwick and the FA, the job of appointing a replacement is about to start.

Given the difficulties they encountered before McClaren accepted the job, it is not a duty which will be taken on with a great deal of enthusiasm.

Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill is sure to be the early favourite - especially because others who were interviewed last time around, including Alan Curbishley and Sam Allardyce, have not built on their reputations since.

The most welcome appointments would be those of former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho or current Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

However, it seems unlikely either man would entertain the prospect of picking up the poisoned chalice - even if they were promised the kind of eye-bulging salary McClaren's predecessor Sven-Goran Eriksson used to command.

Alan Shearer and Stuart Pearce will be other names tossed into the frame. But clearly it is an unenviable task for Barwick, who tried, and failed to lure Luiz Felipe Scolari to England last time around.