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."

Thompson promised the FA will conduct a "root and branch" review of the England team set-up, to be led by chief executive Brian Barwick and which will begin with immediate effect.

Thompson added: "The chief executive has been given authority to identify a new head coach and will report to the board with his recommendations.

"There is no definite time frame for an appointment of the new head coach."

Thompson told a press conference: "Like every England fan, we are bitterly disappointed that we have failed to qualify. I know Steve feels that disappointment more than anyone.

"Of course, we have no divine right to play in any major tournament - but it is quite right that qualification is expected.

"I would like to thank Steve for the work he has done. His commitment to the job cannot be questioned, and I wish him the best for the future."

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.

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