McClaren sacked as England boss

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Steve McClaren was sacked as England head coach on Thursday following their failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals, the Football Association confirmed.

McClaren's short reign in charge ended after the 3-2 defeat by Croatia on Wednesday dashed England's hopes of playing at next year's European Championship.

"At a meeting this morning the FA board unanimously decided to terminate the contract of Steve McClaren with immediate effect," FA chairman Geoff Thompson told a news conference.

"The Board agreed to a full root and branch examination of the whole England set-up with immediate effect.

"Of course we have no divine right to play in major tournaments but qualification is expected."

Thompson said no time frame had been put on finding a replacement but said FA chief executive Brian Barwick had been given full authority to identify the new coach.

The FA said it had also terminated the contract of assistant coach Terry Venables, the second time he has been sacked from an England post after he coached the team at Euro 1996.

Barwick, whose own role in the choice of McClaren as coach has come under scrutiny, said he wished McClaren well.