Alan Smith was given an opportunity to play for England and chose to play elsewhere. It's probably not the cleverest thing he's done. |
Allegations made during the past week have not been good for the game's image. However, the FA fully appreciates the importance of Sven and the England team in the build up to and during the World Cup. |
Due to the magnitude of the Final, we are not prepared to compromise or take any risks on the stadium being unable to stage such a significant event. |
Equally, we have taken the prudent step to book the Millennium Stadium. |
He must need the football, |
I am asking Sven to take what I believe to be the best English team since 1966 to the World Cup and try and win it. There was an opportunity for some significant clarification of the situation. We discussed it long and hard and felt the best way forward was him to focus on 2006. And then for him and us to part company in good heart and with good grace. |
I can confirm that this season's FA Cup final will be held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on May 13. |
I expect him to be with us until the European Championship of 2008. He enjoys the job and we enjoy having him. There is a bigger picture; we are not naive, but we are dealing with having Sven on board for some time to come. |
I like him as a man and I think he's proved with his competitive record that he's an extremely good England coach and I get on will with him personally. |
I think it's evident now we were in Lisbon yesterday, speaking to Luiz Felipe Scolari as part of our ongoing process of recruiting the next England senior national coach for this autumn, and that process continues at pace. |
I was in Lisbon yesterday talking to Luiz Felipe Scolari as part of our ongoing process to recruit the next senior England national coach. That process continues apace. |
I was keen that if Sven was going to enjoy his football trade past 2006, that I was aware of it. In a way we've been trying to insure against [being left in the lurch], by having a mature relationship, that we would try and prevent that situation. What was important for me was to be seen to be backing Sven. |
I was keen to see Eileen Drewery because I thought her name was Eileen Brewery. |
I'm a great believer in drawing experience and knowledge from people. |
I'm giving Sven an opportunity to take the best English side since 1966 to a World Cup, and that's my way of saying I have a fantastic degree of confidence in his ability to deliver for us. |