It was common knowledge that the relationship between the English Football Association and national team manager Fabio Capello was strained. The two parts never got into synch and the relationship worsened after England’s dismal exit from the World Cup two years ago.

But few expected that a row on England’s captaincy was to lead to Capello’s resignation, a few months before England are to take part in the European championships to be held in June and July in Ukraine and Poland.

This week, after Chelsea defender John Terry was stripped on the England captaincy as he is due to face trial on racism allegations soon after the Euro championships – and this without Capello’s consent – matters came to a head and the Italian coach resigned.

It is not a question of who is wrong and who is right. Capello felt he had the right to know what was about to take place but the English FA thought it fit to decide without him.

The question that needs to be raised is whether Terry should have been stripped of the captaincy, considering that he is still innocent until proven guilty. Should the FA have gone this far?

As it happened, England are now without a coach on the eve of the second most lucrative national football team competition. Some will say that it is a blessing in disguise, and that England stand a better chance of doing well with a coach other than Capello. But, at the same time, removing him with only four months to go for the competition to start is also a big risk.

England have been playing under Capello for several years and, like it or hate it, the players have grown accustomed to his tactics and ideas. Now they will have to play under a new manager, and they only have a couple of friendly games in which to test themselves.

On another note, the speculation on who will replace Capello is now dominating the English media. Stuart Pearce has been named as his interim substitute, but there are a number of managers who have been mentioned as possible replacements, including Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Guus Hiddink. Many however are of the idea that it should be an English coach who takes over.

We have to wait and see.