The Football Association have called a press conference for 0945, at which they are expected to announce the dismissal of England coach Steve McClaren.

A hastily arranged FA board meeting at Soho Square appears to have rubber-stamped McClaren's departure after just 18 games in charge, the shortest tenure of any coach in the post.

McClaren's time in office came to a humiliating end last night with a 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley which ended England's hopes of reaching Euro 2008.

McClaren refused to resign immediately after the game, but it appeared only a matter of time before he was dumped.

All the major FA powerbrokers were at Soho Square for an 0830 meeting, and the speed with which they have arranged a press conference suggested McClaren's future was not even a matter of debate.

With the FA delegation due to head to Durban for Sunday's 2010 World Cup draw tomorrow night, McClaren's position needs to be clarified - and it is inconceivable he will not be told to clear his desk, with the execution likely to be swift.

For all his failure to guide England to the European Championships as planned - which will cost the FA a minimum of £8million - McClaren does not deserve to have the matter dragged out, and the FA will want to spare him the embarrassment of having to board a flight to Durban tomorrow for Sunday's World Cup qualifying draw.

A handsome payout will cushion the blow to McClaren's ego - and given his excellent coaching credentials before taking the England job, it should not be too long before he is back in work.

But for Barwick and the FA, the job of appointing a replacement is about to start.

Given the difficulties they encountered before McClaren accepted the job, it is not a duty which will be taken on with a great deal of enthusiasm.