The FA board moved swiftly to sack both Steve McClaren and assistant Terry Venables on Thursday morning in the wake of the failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

A full "root and branch examination" of the whole England senior team set-up is to be conducted as the nation struggles to come to terms with missing the first major international tournament in more than a decade.

Just who will head up the England team by the time their next fixture comes around - likely to be against Euro 2008 joint-hosts Switzerland in February - remains subject for speculation, with a caretaker appointment the most likely immediate outcome.

Bookmakers have installed former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho as the early favourite for the job on a permanent basis, with Barwick revealing this time around, there would be no clamour for the role to necessarily be filled by an Englishman.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is another leading candidate, while Fabio Capello has expressed an interest, but Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has been quick to rule himself out.

With an FA delegation set to head out to South Africa for this weekend's 2010 World Cup qualifying draw, Barwick is all to aware that timing is everything.

"I am asking for a little bit of patience at the moment," he said.

"I think the fact I will be given the opportunity to lead from the front on this is significant.

"We have got to get the right person."

Barwick added: "It is a very, very tough job because if you lose a game, you wait three months to play the next one.

"Also the level of interest you derive for the public, which we are beneficiaries of to be frank - that's how we sell our sponsorship and television deals - is the sometimes virtuous and sometimes vicious circle we are in.

"We are dealing with level of exposure to the English national team, the likes of which has changed beyond all recognition."

Despite England's clear problems on the pitch, there has as yet been no signal of changes within the board at FA headquarters.

Many fans have lost confidence in the administration, asking why should the same incumbents be trusted to get it right this time having failed so miserably in the last appointment?

Manchester United chief executive David Gill replaced Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein on the FA board last summer, and believes things are moving in the right direction behind the scenes at Soho Square.

Gill said: "I am new to it, but you just have to look at how the board has worked and what progress has been made over the last year - whether it be the new Wembley, the new TV deal or the sponsorship arrangements.

"Progress is being made - and through the chairman's 'root and branch' review we can get it right."