Kelly quits English FA

The credibility of the English Football Association leadership is in tatters after the biggest internal crisis in the governing body's long history.

Chief executive Graham Kelly was forced to resign at an emergency meeting of the FA's executive committee, which also passed a unanimous vote of no confidence in chairman Keith Wiseman.

The moves came after an internal investigation into an alleged offer of a £3.2 million loan or grant made to the Football Association of Wales (FAW), which was apparently endorsed by Wiseman and Kelly.

It has been alleged that the loan was linked to the FAW supporting Wiseman's unsuccessful attempt to join the FIFA executive and that Wiseman and Kelly offered the money without prior consultation with FA committees.

Wiseman continues to reject those claims and will fight on until the FA's full council consider his position at their next meeting on January 4th.

Kelly, who is perhaps best known to the public as the master of ceremonies at FA Cup draws, insisted that neither man had done anything wrong as he left his office for perhaps the last time.

He also maintained that the crisis would not jeopardise the country's bid for the 2006 World Cup, while FA colleagues further insisted that it would not affect the position of England coach Glenn Hoddle.

"I resigned on agreed terms because at the end of a lot of discussions we were unable to convince the executive committee of the appropriateness of what we did," declared Kelly.

"It's certainly a big disappointment for me personally but I firmly believe that everything we did was in the very best interests of the Football Association and of English football."

Meanwhile, Wiseman released a short statement which said: "The issue is one for the full Football Association council.

"I do not intend to make any comment at all until I have shared the full circumstances of this matter with them all, save that the version of events carried hitherto in the national press is a gross distortion of the truth."

In what could become permanent moves, vice-chairman Geoff Thompson was appointed temporary head of the FA, while director of public affairs David Davies is executive director in charge of day-to-day affairs for the time being.

Davies insisted that the FA's image had not been tarnished by the day's events and declared that the matter will not be allowed to interfere with the daily work of English football's governing body.

"I believe that people will see over the next few weeks and months that the leadership of our game is in good hands; that is what we intend to show to people," he said.

Davies refused to elaborate on the details of yesterday's six-hour meeting for legal reasons, except to reveal that no legal action will be taken against the two men, although the FA's new compliance officer could still become involved.

The co-author of Hoddle's World Cup diary simply stated that the meeting had followed "contacts over recent months with the FAW" and the actions of the two men "in that connection."