BBC Radio 5 Live's Gordon Farquhar reports

He stood down after more than two hours of debate at a meeting of the FA's Full Council in London.

It followed the resignation of FA chief executive Graham Kelly on December 15 over the cash-for-votes scandal.

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Wiseman, who hurried away from the meeting, left behind a hand-written statement explaining his actions.

It read: "After a full debate in the FA council, I have tendered my resignation as chairman. I have achieved my objective in providing the council with a full explanation of events that have been subject to a great deal of publicity.

"I am grateful that they have felt able to unanimously record that in accepting my resignation they wished to make it clear that no aspersions had been cast on my integrity or honesty. That means a great deal.

"The issues involved have been complex and much of the media coverage has been wild and wholly inaccurate."

Gordon Farquhar: "Geoff Thompson is taking over" (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Acting chief executive David Davies had earlier emerged from the meeting to say Wiseman had offered his resignation and it had been accepted by the 91 council members.

Wiseman, deputy chairman of Southampton, said he now planned to return to his personal interests and wished the FA well for the future.

But his resignation leaves the FA without a permanent leader as they forge a bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Kelly resigned last month after revelations that £3.2m had been granted to the Welsh FA for a youth development scheme in return for their support for England's bid to obtain a seat on FIFA's executive council.

Wiseman's deputy, Geoff Thompson, will take over as acting chairman and is one of the men tipped as a possible successor to Wiseman when a decision is made, probably in June.

Others include Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks, Sheffield Wednesday chairman Dave Richards and Chelsea supremo Ken Bates.