Mandelson and Kelly... Whelan and Wiseman. Four resignations, two organisations, one issue: integrity.

The simultaneous timings either side of Christmas are coincidental of course and yet both at Westminster and Lancaster Gate the damage limitation had already begun.

At a five o'clock news conference on Monday, the lunchtime resignation of Keith Wiseman was already a non-event.

David Davies: Front runner for chief executive

"Today closes a chapter," said Davies, and he peppered the journalists present with phrases concerned with the FA's "unprecedented unity" and how it was "going forward with strength".

And yet it is not as simple or believable as that, especially not in the self-interested world of football politics.

First there is the matter of Wiseman's successor. Geoff Thompson - a wicketkeeper for his local cricket club in Sheffield - will enjoy being described as a "safe pair of hands" as he moves up from the role of vice-chairman to take temporary charge.

Yet his authority may already be in danger as well he knows. His remark about "putting forward certain proposals" in the near future was not picked up this afternoon, but it is surely an indicator that the very constitution of the Football Association itself is up for grabs.

Keith Wiseman's resignation was accepted unanimously by the 91-man FA Council, but otherwise this is a cumbersome and outdated decision-making body, drawn from the county associations and armed forces as well as the modern professional game.

It is already an anachronism in the late 20th Century, never mind the early 21st, and there is a collective understanding at Lancaster Gate that the blazers must be mothballed.

Ken Bates has only an outside chance as the next chairman

So Geoff Thompson's candidacy for the permanent chairmanship, if forthcoming, would have to acknowledge modernisation without alienating his own particular amateur constituency of support.

And if he got in on a deal, how long would it be before the reformers further undermined his position? The tide - after all - is clearly running their way.

Of the other contenders, Chelsea's Ken Bates and Arsenal's David Dein must be outsiders - their fierce partiality in favour of their own clubs is probably sufficient to disqualify them.

What is more, Dein is too closely identified with the professional game to attract the amateurs and a vote for the unpredictable Bates from any section of the FA electorate would be like trusting the poacher to turn gamekeeper just after handing him a shiny, big shotgun.

So it is David Richards of Sheffield Wednesday - the Premiership's previous choice before he was overtaken by Wiseman.....or more likely Ipswich's David Sheepshanks, also former chairman of the Football League.

David Sheepshanks looks likely to take the lead

Sheepshanks, urbane and skilful, looks the best bet for the time being. He impressed the professionals with his determination to keep the Football League buoyant under the crushing power of the Premier League and the amateurs will feel they can trust a man who learned the game on the playing fields of Eton.