Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick has confirmed that nationality will not be an issue when selecting the new England coach.

Already a host of names are being linked with the job, regarded by many as the biggest in world football, with a number of foreign candidates.

"I don't think nationality will be an issue," Barwick said on Sky Sports News, at the press conference confirming the departure of Steve McClaren and assistant coach Terry Venables.

Barwick was quick to make a public apology for their failure to reach Austria and Switzerland.

"I would like to apologise to the fans personally," he continued.

"I care about this passionately. This has never been just a job to me - I am in it because I care about football, footballs fans and football teams.

"Last night was a tough night to take and I want the fans to know that we care about this a lot and we understand we have let them down and I apologise to them for that.

"I look at the FA this year and, off the field, we have made significant progress and success but I recognise that to the public, how England play and how far they go is what they really measure the FA by."

The FA chief executive confirmed that the decision to remove McClaren was a unanimous one by the board.

"It was a board decision, it was unanimous - I have spoken to Steve, I get on really well with him, I had a grown-up conservation with him. I only wish him well, he has put real hard work into this job but in the end not qualifying for Euro 2008 comes up short," he said.

"In the end qualification for a major tournament is minimum requirement and I think Steve realises that too."

Finally, Barwick confirmed the FA would be facing major financial losses because of their Euro 2008 failure, saying: "It is less than £5million."