'Barwick to leave FA amid rift'

Updated 21.10 Wed Aug 20 2008

Chief executive Brian Barwick is to leave the Football Association amid reports of a rift with new chairman Lord Triesman.

The news leaked out just as England's friendly with the Czech Republic was about to start at Wembley.

It has been known for some time Barwick does not see eye to eye with new chairman Lord Triesman and this could be one of the reasons behind the development

Although initial reports are that Barwick has been sacked, he will not leave Soho Square until December 31.

Barwick, a former controller of sport for ITV, became FA chief executive in January 2005 and was responsible for appointing Steve McClaren as England manager after Sven-Goran Eriksson left the job following the 2006 World Cup.

He was also instrumental in replacing McClaren with Italian Fabio Capello as coach earlier this year after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

Barwick bore the brunt of responsibility for the bungled way Eriksson was replaced, being spotted flying to meet Luiz Felipe Scolari, then claiming the Brazilian had not been offered the job when the current Chelsea boss decided against it after all.

The blame for the ill-fated reign of McClaren was also pinned at Barwick's door, while a recent demand for the England team to reach the semi-finals of the next two major competitions seems optimistic in the extreme.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.