England's Football Association has appointed government administrator Ian Watmore to replace Brian Barwick as chief executive at the end of the season.

The FA said yesterday that the 50-year-old Watmore, who has never held a professional role in football, is set to take over in June.

Watmore, the permanent secretary for the British government's Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, was one of three candidates interviewed Monday and will work alongside chairman David Triesman to help run the game in England.

Barwick's departure came following disagreements with the ruling body's chairman over the scope of his role.

"We had a very strong shortlist of candidates, but in Ian we have the right person to lead the organization as chief executive officer," Triesman said. "The FA is committed to maximizing participation across all levels of football in this country, helping the England teams and our clubs achieve success on the pitch, while also being trusted to govern the game."

The FA has appointed chief executives without experience of football administration in the past, most notably Adam Crozier, who was involved in the hiring of the country's first overseas coach - Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Barwick, whose highlights in the role were getting approval for a National Football Center and convincing Fabio Capello to succeed Steve McClaren as national team manager, came from a broadcast background.

Watmore's primary sporting experience comes from his role on the board of the English Institute for Sport, which is funded by the national lottery and government and helps to prepare high performance athletes for major events including the Olympics.

An Arsenal fan, he has worked in government administration since quitting the information technology industry in 2004.