So, in truth, do the academies whose stringent requirements placed a big financial burden on smaller clubs. The FA's website was premature in suggesting yesterday the academies had produced a steady stream of England internationals. It is hoped they will, but the few players who have been through the full system are still teenagers.However, only his fiercest critics would deny that Wilkinson has been a success. The foundations are in place, and his initial brief is all but complete. With only a steady hand on the tiller now required, Wilkinson, without a challenge to occupy him, could have become a problem.

That may be why Adam Crozier, the FA's chief executive, did not try too hard to dissuade him from leaving.. England's footballers were concentrating on tomorrow's European Championship qualifier when they arrived here in Slovakia last night, but the administrators had their minds on two people left behind. They hope they will not be similarly discomfited by the impending serialisation of Ulrika Jonsson's autobiography.Having only learned on Wednesday night that Wilkinson would accept Sunderland's offer, Adam Crozier, the FA chief executive, said he would not rush into replacing him. Sven Goran Eriksson, the England coach, would be consulted along with Gordon Taylor, the head of the players' union, and John Barnwell, of the League Managers' Association. For now, Wilkinson's assistants, Robin Russell and Les Reed, will be in control.Crozier said a foreigner would be appointed "if he was the best person for the job" He added: "There is no rush as the groundwork is done. We need someone to take that work on and keep improving it."Crozier said that the FA will be seeking compensation for the two years remaining on Wilkinson's contract. Initially surprised at the decision, he added: "I tried to persuade Howard to stay but not very hard as I realised he was desperate to return to coaching a team."The FA can cope with Wilkinson leaving, but for Eriksson to depart would be catastrophic at this stage of a campaign.

To that end, the FA is privately concerned that further revelations about his private life, and alleged claims regarding unguarded pillow talk could feature in Jonsson's book. Crozier insisted he was "relaxed" about the autobiography and had "only spoken briefly" to Eriksson about it.On the football front all remaining 22 members of the squad trained yesterday and David Beckham said that his calf injury had healed. The England captain said of tomorrow's match: "We started our last two campaigns badly but have a game under our belts this time and are playing better football.". Scotland were given a huge vote of no confidence by Ars? Wenger yesterday as they flew to Iceland to try to salvage any hope of qualifying for Euro 2004. The Arsenal manager said that he had never signed a Scottish player simply because they were not good enough any more. The Frenchman said he has considered the possibility of bringing Scots to Highbury in the past but they have always failed to live up to his high standards.