Fa Lends Steve Mcclaren Its Support

The Football Association today insisted it is firmly behind Steve McClaren, despite reports suggesting its 11-man International Committee planned to summon him to Soho Square to explain England's dismal recent performances.

In a statement released from Barcelona, where England play Andorra in a Euro 2008 qualifying match tomorrow, chairman Noel White and vice-chairman Sir David Richards expressed their backing for McClaren.

"It is very disappointing to see reports today that we have or will 'summon' Steve McClaren to explain himself to the International Committee when we return to England," read the statement. "At a time when we are giving our full support to Steve and the England team ahead of tomorrow night's game with Andorra, these stories are very unhelpful."

McClaren will be required to attend a debrief when the International Committee meets next month, although White and Richards have insisted there is nothing unusual in that.

"As the senior members of the committee, we can confirm that Steve, as normal, will attend the next international committee meeting as he and every England manager always has," explained the statement. "There is nothing out of the ordinary with this. It is routine. We have been with the squad throughout the past week and it is obvious to us just how hard Steve and his coaching staff are working to get results. We would once again like to offer our full support to Steve and all the team."

The support of White and Richards, plus FA chief executive Brian Barwick, is crucial to McClaren's hopes of keeping his job. After five games without a win, the England manager knows anything other than victory in tomorrow will almost certainly cost him his job. However, against a nation who have yet to claim a point and with a population of around 70,000, such a scenario appears unthinkable. Instead, it is becoming increasingly clear McClaren will be given the remainder of the qualifying campaign to prove his worth.