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Friday, 5 May 2006, 14:44 GMT 15:44 UK

We made mistakes admits FA chief

"We might have been tighter in terms of confidentiality"
FA chief Brian Barwick

Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick Football Association chief Brian Barwick has admitted the search for a new England coach was "compromised".

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren was on Thursday confirmed as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor after Luiz Felipe Scolari ruled himself out of the job.

"We will review the process. We probably need to go away and have a look at it," said Barwick, who headed the four-man selection panel.

"We were trying to do a professional job and at times we were compromised."

The search for a new boss - which culminated in McClaren signing a four-year deal to start after the World Cup - lasted nine weeks.

Barwick said that although he was happy with the process there were areas that could be improved.

"There was a heck of a lot of good about it and just occasionally it was seen we tripped over," added Barwick.

"I'd like to think we might have been tighter in terms of confidentiality."

"At times it felt longer but in truth the selection process was nine weeks"
Brian Barwick

Barwick has since insisted that McClaren was his first choice for the position - but it has been widely reported that Scolari only pulled out of the running after he had been offered the job.

Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley were also interviewed for the position, while Barwick has since admitted that he discussed the job with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who he claims had no interested in accepting the position.

But Barwick said he was happy with the amount of time it took to find the new England coach.

He said: "This process lasted nine weeks. At times it felt longer but in truth it was nine weeks.

"What we tried to do was put together a process that gave us a chance of seeing as many people as possible.

"I wanted to have a process where anyone who felt they should be interviewed for the England job could be and, in 10 years, say they were interviewed for it, feel good about themselves and feel good abut the process.

"We wanted a chance to sift through the candidates, to use the right amount of time to get to the winning candidate.

"In any other major industry, nine weeks, 10 weeks wouldn't be an issue but we learned that in the football industry it's difficult to sustain."

Barwick, Premier League chief Dave Richards, FA director of football Sir Trevor Brooking and Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein comprised the selection panel.




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Related to this story:

Boro chairman angry at Dein role (05 May 06 |  Middlesbrough )
McClaren named as England manager (04 May 06 |  Internationals )
Fans take McClaren to task (05 May 06 |  Football )
McClaren's career in photos (04 May 06 |  Photo Galleries )
Hansen's view on McClaren (04 May 06 |  Football )
The making of an England manager (04 May 06 |  England )
England job not for me - Scolari (28 Apr 06 |  Internationals )

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