The Football Association were plunged into further uncertainty and confusion as internal splits over the appointment of a new chief executive were blamed for the supposed first-choice candidate turning the job down.
Almost six months after Adam Crozier was effectively forced out of his post, the FA were tonight still having trouble finding the right person to replace him.
Peter Littlewood, an American-based English executive with a subsidiary company of food giant Mars, was picked out by the FA's six-man selection panel, headed by chairman Geoff Thompson.
However, other elements on the 12-man FA board made it known that they were opposed to Littlewood's appointment, arguing either the FA did not need a chief executive or that another candidate, Mark Palios, was better suited to the job.
Littlewood, 45, is therefore understood to have contacted the FA before today's board meeting to tell them he was no longer interested in the vacant post.
Despite other pressing issues, such as the decision to refuse the UEFA's allocation of England tickets for the Turkey game, the thorny issue of the chief executive's post hung over the proceedings.
Once again it has exposed the splits within the FA hierarchy, with board members disagreeing over the way forward.
Despite considerable business experience as well as degrees in applied mathematics and economics, Littlewood was seen by some FA figures as another marketing man, just like Crozier.
That faction, who are worried by the FA's financial situation, favoured Palios, an ex-professional footballer with Tranmere, who is now the UK leader of accountants Price WaterhouseCoopers' business regeneration team.
The FA will have to decide whether to offer the job to Palios, who now knows he was not their unanimous first-choice candidate or rethink their whole strategy.