The Football Association is to hold an emergency board meeting after England's dismal failure to qualify for the European Championships. Millions of fans were left devastated after England's 3-2 loss to Croatia at Wembley Stadium ended hopes of the team playing in next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland.
It is the first time England have failed to qualify for the Championships since 1984, and they join Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland on the sidelines next summer after they all failed to get through their groups. England boss Steve McClaren refused to resign in the aftermath of the defeat, but he now looks certain to get the sack at the FA executive meeting.
McClaren said in an interview after the final whistle: "Ultimately I take responsibility and I accept that. "It was my job to get us qualified and I failed to do that.
"I don't want to discuss my future at the present moment. I am trying to get over that result. "We feel exactly the same (as the fans), believe you me, we know how they are feeling. You should see the dressing room, they are so disappointed to have let so many people down."
Bookmakers William Hill announced they are refusing to take bets on McClaren standing down as England coach.
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is now 5/1 favourite to succeed McClaren as England manager.
Hahaha I knew. England never knew what's losing a match!
That's it. Now: Maximo must go au sio? Kisa: hatukwenda Ghana!
Source: THE FA.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.
FA Chairman Geoff Thompson 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."
Source: BBC SportsMcClaren sacked as England coach
Steve McClaren has been sacked as England coach following his side's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
Assistant coach Terry Venables has also lost his job in what the Football Association said was a unanimous decision by its board.
The FA brought a swift end to McClaren's 18-month reign as England's head coach at an emergency meeting.
McClaren's position had become untenable after the 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday.
FA chairman Geoff Thompson 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."
McClaren, 46, who had a four-year deal, is expected to be paid more than £2m in compensation and ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Martin O'Neill are the bookies favourite to succeed him.
The FA has plenty of time to search for a replacement with the next scheduled fixture a friendly in France at the end of March.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick confirmed that nationality would not be an issue as he leads the search to find McClaren's successor.
Barwick also admitted that errors were made in the selection process when McClaren, who had just 18 games in charge, the shortest tenure of any England coach, was appointed in May 2006.
"The recruitment process for the new coach begins now and we will do everything to get the right man for the job," said Barwick.
"It will be done differently. We've got to learn lessons from the way we did it."
McClaren's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 cost him his job, said Barwick.
"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," said Barwick.
"Qualification for a major tournament is probably a minimum requirement."
Barwick also denied he regretted giving McClaren a four-year contract.
"The contract is a private contract. I don't regret that now; I think he has tried very hard."
FA board director and Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards defended Barwick, saying: "Brian has taken a lot of stick about him being the sole person to appoint McClaren.
"This responsibility has to be shared among us all. It's unfair to say he was Brian's man - he was the FA's man."
Barwick said he felt embarrassed and disappointed about the situation
"I'd like to apologise to the fans personally.
"I care about this passionately, it has never been just a job. I'm in it because I care about football, football fans and football teams.
"Last night was a tough, tough night. We care about this very much. I understand we have let them down and apologise for that."
Former Middlesbrough boss McClaren admitted before the Croatia match that he would "take responsibility" if England failed to reach the European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland.
The FA took action to dismiss McClaren ahead of the 2010 World Cup qualifying draw in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.
England's failure to reach a major tournament for the first time since the 1994 World Cup finals will cost the FA at least £5m in lost revenues.
Thompson promised the FA would conduct a "root-and-branch" review of the England team set-up, and would be led by chief executive Brian Barwick and would begin with immediate effect.
Vipi Wabongo yule kocha wa Brazil bado tunaye tu baada ya kushindwa kutupeleka fainali? BADO ANAENDELEA KUTAFUNA PESA YA WALIPA KODI?
Unamtetea aendelee kula pesa ya walipa kodi kwa kazi ambayo imemshinda? Huyu kocha analipwa pesa chungu nzima ya walipa kodi kwa kazi gani kama hawezi ku-deliver? Mfano hai upo hapo UK jamaa kashindwa kwa heri.
Nakumbuka yeye aliahidi kwamba atatupeleka Ghana kwenye fainali na alisema la world cup hawezi kuahidi lakini la Ghana alitoa ahadi na alipewa pesa lukuki kwa kazi huyo, rejea safari ya Brazil na Europe. Hata mwaka 1980 wakati tulikwenda Nigeria hawakutumia pesa nyingi kiasi hicho. Kama mnataka Maximo afundishe basi apewe kazi nyingine ya kufundisha soka na sio timu ya taifa pekee kwani kwa hivi sasa anafanya shughuli gani wakati timu ya taifa haina mazoezi na mechi zake ni za musimu tu?
Tubadilike na tuanze kuonyesha kujali kile ambacho tunataka kitokee, hatuwezi kusubiri failure nyingine.
Kwa pesa anayokomba huyu tutapata makocha wengine 20 wafundishe soka kwenye grass root.
Je, mazingira na kiwango cha soka cha wachezaji waliokuwepo mwaka 1980 na sasa kiko sawasawa?
Pili, ni kocha gani au katika mazingira yapi unakabidhiwa timu then unasema , ah hapa hatuendi Ghana, nadhani hiyo haipo.
Tatu, kama ulimsikiliza Maximo siku za mwanzo wakati anaelezea program zake, alisema kuwa tanzania itatuchukua hadi miaka 20 kuweza kufikia viwango vya juu soka duniani. hii inaeleweka hatuna ligi za wachezaji wa kiumri.
Kiwango chetu cha soka kipo chini sana Dua, tusifikiri tutakurupuka na kuwa sawasawa na England hata ndani ya miaka 20.
Mwisho, natambua na kuheshimu kuwepo kwa mawazo tofauti kutoka mtu mmoja hadi mwingine, lakini nadhani kulaumu bila ya kuonyesha njia ya kweli yenye tija ni sawa na kupoteza muda.
Huyu kocha alipoletwa alipewa mission ya kutupeleka Ghana hawakusema aendeleze mpira kutoka grass root. Hiyo kazi pamoja na kupewa pesa nyingi imemshinda kwa hiyo ni jukumu letu kufuta huo mkataba labda kama wanakatiana kisiri siri maana hata huo mshahara wake hao TFF hawaufahamu sasa wewe unafikiria pana usalama hapo?
Unawezaje kumthibiti kocha ambaye hata mkataba wake huufahamu? Hii issue ya malipo yake ilikuwepo hapa JF kwenye thread mojawapo nitaitafuta niiweke hapa. Makocha wengine 20+ ambao watalipwa na kiasi cha kumlipa kocha moja kwa kuendesha mafunzo kutoka grass root ndio tunahitaji sio huyu wa kungojea kuchagua wachezaji kwa musimu na kukomba pesa zote hizo.
We Dua,
1. Maximo akikusikia leo- hataelewa! Unga wake bwana tena JK ndo analipa from Consolidated Fund! Maximo apewe tena kama 3 years- kama Angola 2010 tusipofuzu- basi hatima yake ieleweke!
2. Kuajiri makocha wengi for under 20 hii ni wazo zuri! Itolewe pesa ingine tu- mbona kuna pesa kibao tu sinafanya kazi sisizokuwa na umuhimu mkubwa?