Wembley Barwick inherited the project at a difficult time because of continuing difficulties with Multiplex, the Australian builders, but despite the embarrassment of having to move the 2006 FA Cup Final to the Millennium Stadium Barwick succeeded where others had failed by finally opening the stadium the next year.

TV rights Barwick used his experience in this area to deliver a £425 million deal with ITV and Setanta to show England matches and the FA Cup for four years starting this month, a £125 million increase on the previous contract.

Capello The jury may still be out on the England manager, but Barwick did at least recruit an experienced coach with previous success at the highest level.

. . . and what he got wrong

Scolari Barwick’s bungled attempt to force the Brazilian to commit to England before the 2006 World Cup finals was his biggest mistake. It returned to haunt him last month when the Chelsea manager revealed that he would have taken the job had the FA settled for a letter of intent from him.

McClaren The error over Scolari was followed by another. Barwick’s insistence on interviewing all candidates on a lengthy shortlist deprived England of Guus Hiddink and led them to McClaren, arguably the least successful manager in their history.

Triesman Barwick backed the Burns report, which brought him a vote on the FA Board for the first time, but also led to the appointment of Lord Triesman as the FA’s first independent chairman, the equivalent of a turkey voting for Christmas.

Chief executive has rollercoaster ride in the hot seat from start to finish

January 31, 2005 The former ITV controller of sport begins his role as the FA’s third chief executive in 26 months with structural reform and restoration of the governing body’s credibility high on the agenda after the newspaper revelations that caused the resignation of Mark Palios, his predecessor. Lord Burns’s inquiry into the FA’s structure dominates much of Barwick’s year, as does the delayed Wembley Stadium.

January 2006 Announces after the tabloid “fake sheikh” exposé that Sven-Göran Eriksson will leave his post as England head coach after the World Cup finals in Germany in the summer.

April 2006 Endures criticism for the botched courtship of Luiz Felipe Scolari to succeed Eriksson. Appoints Steve McClaren in May, which would attract much criticism when England fail to qualify for Euro 2008.

April 2007 TV rights to England international matches and the FA Cup are sold to ITV and Setanta for £425 million.

May 2007 The late and over-budget Wembley finally stages its first FA Cup Final.

November 2007 Sacks McClaren after England fail to qualify for Euro 2008. Announces England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals.

December 2007 FA finally approves Burton upon Trent national football centre; Lord Triesman becomes first independent FA chairman; Fabio Capello, left, made England manager.

May 2008 Supports the “six plus five” foreign quota plan proposed by Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president. Sets Capello the target of reaching the semi-finals or better in either of the next two big tournaments.

Words by Tom Dart

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