Nationality not issue for FA

FA will consider foreign coach

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 22nd November 2007

Brian Barwick

Barwick: Looking for new coach

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Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick has confirmed that nationality will not be an issue when selecting the new England coach.

Steve McClaren was sacked early on Thursday less than 12 hours after England's defeat to Croatia at Wembley which cost them a place at Euro 2008.

Already a host of names are being linked with the job, regarded by many as the biggest in world football, with a number of foreign candidates.

Following Sven Goran Eriksson's tenure the FA moved for an Englishman in McClaren, but following his unsuccessful spell the option of another foreign coach is again very much a possibility.

Nationality

"I don't think nationality will be an issue," Barwick said on Sky Sports News, at the press conference confirming the departure of McClaren and assistant coach Terry Venables.

Barwick - who many England supporters have also turned on following the defeat to Croatia - was quick to make a public apology for their failure to reach Austria and Switzerland.

"I would like to apologise to the fans personally," he continued.

"I care about this passionately. This has never been just a job to me - I am in it because I care about football, footballs fans and football teams.

"Last night was a tough night to take and I want the fans to know that we care about this a lot and we understand we have let them down and I apologise to them for that.

"I look at the FA this year and, off the field, we have made significant progress and success but I recognise that to the public, how England play and how far they go is what they really measure the FA by."

Unanimous

The FA chief executive confirmed that the decision to remove McClaren was a unanimous one by the board.

"It was a board decision, it was unanimous - I have spoken to Steve, I get on really well with him, I had a grown-up conservation with him. I only wish him well, he has put real hard work into this job but in the end not qualifying for Euro 2008 comes up short," he said.

"In the end qualification for a major tournament is minimum requirement and I think Steve realises that too."

Barwick insisted that he did not have any regrets about giving McClaren a four-year contract - but admitted lessons had been learned from their previous hunt for a new national coach.

"The contract is private, but there were break clauses in it - but I don't regret it, no," he said.

"It [the search] will be done differently, because it would be a surprise not to have learned lessons from last time.

"We have got to learn lessons from how we did it."

Finally, Barwick confirmed the FA would be facing major financial losses because of their Euro 2008 failure, saying: "It is less than £5million."

Comments

Sam Draisey (Aston Villa fan) says...

There were two players in Engalnd shirts last night, and nine in white tops. Only Crouch and Beckham looked like they gave a damn about the country and its a crying shame. its time we started picking players lower down the Premiership or even lower. Players that, like millions of other people in this nation, would give everything they have to play for England. I only pray that the FA now pick a manager strong enough to drop our ''superstars'' if they are not producing the goods. Lets forget the football for a while and work on installing the passion and pride the teams of our fathers were world renouned for!

Posted 20:28 22nd November 2007

Chris Lennon says...

The predictable and instant sacking of the Manager is typical of the immature way football is administered and played in this country. As if success in a game ought to be guaranteed. Where is the sportsmanship? Is it too much to hope there will be less football and footballers on news bulletins for a while?

Posted 18:51 22nd November 2007

Daniel Henry (Manchester United fan) says...

I really think the problem is with the players themselves.English players are always overhyped when we all know they are just "below average" players.They really need a tough coach with "steel in his balls" to really make things work for them and the FA.

Posted 18:50 22nd November 2007

Leo Goatley (Manchester United fan) says...

One of the happiest boyhood memories I have is of England winning the world cup in 1966. I recall the excitment and enjoyment at England hosting the finals and whatching some of the finest football there ever will be on this planet. I remember the game then, the players, managers, the characters, they were giants. Yet, these role models and heros were not multi millionaires. They did not earn huge sums of money. Top quality players generally stayed with the same club most of their careers. Doing well for their club paved the way for the ultimate sporting goal of playing for their country.The England brand was pedigree. It meant being up there with the very best in the world. We now have some of the richest clubs in the world.As a brand they are gilt edges and saleable to billions around the globe. The Premiership is the most prestigious and probably the toughest league in the world. Players are multi-millionaires. Well all that is great. Money matters. It matters that the beautiful game should catiptivate as much of the world's population as it can. Sport can unite disparate nations. There is however, a price to pay for being the centre of evething elite in world football.The FA can never hope to compete in securing exclusivity of those few top English players who are good enough to perform in the Premiership. We must accept, given the economic momentum of the top game in this country, England will never again win the World Cup. How might the FA re-invent the wheel? They must take proper control of the game. They must offer comprehensive funding and resources to the development of excellence in youth football in the regions. The lads who succeed have the choice to contract with the FA. All they then do is play International football. If top clubs want their services then the players can be leased.This will provide the income to ensure the international players are generously remunerated.

Posted 15:49 22nd November 2007

John Armstrong says...

Look no further than Portsmouth. Harry is the man to get the job,and the results in my opinion. J.A.

Posted 15:47 22nd November 2007

Richard Wright (Manchester City fan) says...

Why is the FA, who after all picks England's National Team Manager/Coach, made up of people whom are not ex footballers or football team managers? What do they know about football man management, training, fitness, or tactics? They have not been very successful over my lifetime, and I'm 68, only having got it right once (Sir Alf Ramsey.) They may be good at making money for the FA but that ability should not overshadow the main purpose of having a National Team which, it seems to me, is to be winning, or at least taking part in the latter stages, international tournaments.

Posted 15:36 22nd November 2007

Steve Scott says...

It is not just the manager that is to blame for the shoddy performance. The days I believe have gone where a player would be proud to wear the England shirt. We are supposed to have some of the best players in the world ? We need someone who can identify why this team can't play as one instead of indivual performances. Maybe we field a team with to much individual talent and not enough team play.

Posted 15:35 22nd November 2007

Martin Speed (Liverpool fan) says...

What I would like is someone to take charge who will put a team out that at least looks like are going to win. Naming a side with one striker must have given Croatia the thought that they could have a go. Why was the pitch in such a state. Why did the England players look unfit/tired throughout the game. What was Steven Gerrard doing for the third goal. Sol Campbell cant run. Do our players know the offside rule (2nd goal), i.e. dont play the opponents onside. I could go on and on as there was an unusual amount of badness last night and it cant all be down to Maclaren even though I am happy to see him go. Get someone who is willing to say how it is like Mourino and ask the FA not to stifle what the manager can say or what he cant. It worked for Russia from big mouth Hiddink.

Posted 14:53 22nd November 2007

Paul Catchpole says...

I am sure that last night broke the hearts of most English fans. Yes we had injury problems but prior to last night's game and England's previous qualifiers other players were available ,including and especially Beckham that only because the media gave Mclarren pressure was he selected Last night the English team gave it their all but were not good enough. Too many foreigners in our English leages that no wonder we cannot have quality players of English heritage to play in international games Wake up FA and see the light, my team is Arsenal who play great football but how many English players are there??

Posted 14:39 22nd November 2007

Yvette Holmes (Arsenal fan) says...

They haven't learnt any lessons for years what is going to change now. I also think that every player should donate their wages from last night to Children in Need as they certainly DO NOT deserve them!

Posted 14:39 22nd November 2007

Michael Pavlou says...

Why does the buck stop with McClaren?? He was appointed by committee and he has been dismmissed by the same - heads need to role in the corridors of the out dated and out of touch FA. The common denominator through all of Englands past failures is the FA - with its antiquated methods, values and self serving motives. If we really want to move on and be succeful onthe pitch then we need to make deep rooted changes at the core of the problem - The FA is not fir for purpose!

Posted 14:14 22nd November 2007

David Holmes (Manchester United fan) says...

About time. Now can they finally get someone in who knows about football. It's quite obvious that an Englishman is not up to the task. The English mindset is too arrogant, almpst expecting to win without putting the works in, which is amazing as we are not that good. We need a manger who will instill some steel and let the players know who is boss. Not qualifying for a major tournament is unacceptable. Get in a coach who knows about defending. An Italian would be the right choice.

Posted 14:11 22nd November 2007

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