Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed that he will stay on as England coach despite the resignation of the Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier.
"I am shocked and saddened by the news like everybody else at the FA. But I am determined to carry on in my job," he said yesterday.
The Swede was being linked with the job of coach of Italy by the Italian press, and the incumbent Giovanni Trapattoni will meet his federation president Franco Carraro on Monday. But sources close to Eriksson indicated that he would not be interested in coaching another national side.
Crozier's ally at the FA, the commercial director Paul Barber, is considering his future after being criticised for his role in the £5 million sponsorship deal for the England team that led to Crozier's resignation. He wants to stay on, but the FA board will discuss his position next month.
The sports minister Richard Caborn, meanwhile, attempted to downplay the impact of Crozier's resignation on the progress of Wembley Stadium. "I wouldn't have thought it will have any adverse impact on the project at all," he said. "He signed everything off in the name of the FA, not as an individual, so it should not affect progress."
The Premier League is likely to have a greater say in the appointment of the FA's new chief executive.
The FA's executive board is to meet next month to discuss the appointment, but widespread consultation with the Premier League is expected before a final decision is made.
Crozier is to stay in his job for two months, and the FA hopes to appoint a replacement in that time. The final decision will be made by the FA's executive board.
A number of names have already been put forward including the Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, the former Football League chairman Keith Harris and Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association.
While Scudamore is being viewed as one of the favourites, he is unlikely to quit the Premier League given the power it now enjoys within English football.
One of the biggest problems facing the FA is that it is likely to have trouble filling the post. Any new chief executive would have to tread carefully and not alienate the powerful lobby of Premier League chairmen who were instrumental in Crozier's resignation.
Two of English football's leading organisations now find themselves leaderless. The Football League has been unable to appoint a new chief executive, despite spending weeks searching for one.
The FA's search is to begin immediately, but ultimately the concerns of the powerful Premier League will be paramount.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has given up his coaching role with England's national team to concentrate on his club duties.
McClaren, who has been one of Eriksson's assistants since 2001, said the decision was not connected with the resignation of Crozier.
"I have decided to step down from my role to concentrate fully on the affairs of Middlesbrough Football Club," McClaren said yesterday. This is purely my own decision. Indeed it is a decision I have been considering for some time as my role with Middlesbrough - which must of course be my first priority - has taken up more time."
"I'm very sorry we are losing him because he is one of the best coaches I know," Eriksson said.
England goalkeeper David Seaman, however, has no plans to retire from international soccer. The 39-year-old Arsenal stopper has been under fire since his mistake allowed Artim Sakiri to open the scoring as Macedonia claimed a 2-2 draw in a Euro 2004 qualifier at Southampton last month.
"No way," Seaman said. "I am not tempted at all. That is the way I feel. Things like that don't bother me that much to make a decision like that. Everybody says you always know when the time is right. Hopefully that time is a long, long way away - who knows?"
