FA gamble over £20m Nationwide deal fails

Nationwide's contract as major England sponsors was due for renewal at the end of this month and the building society had tabled a 20m offer to extend their partnership for another four years.

However, the FA were reasonably confident of England making a positive impact during the current World Cup and opted to hold out in the hope of attracting a more lucrative offer.

In the meantime, a number of Nationwide's 15 million members expressed their unhappiness that, at a time of general financial constraint, the company should be ploughing such enormous sums into a sponsorship contract.

It has now become apparent Nationwide have decided not to renew and will end their 11-year association with the FA.

Sir Trevor Brooking, meanwhile, believes the new National Football Centre in Burton is the key to England's rejuvenation as a major football power.

Having played a key role in confirming Fabio Capello will see out the remainder of his contract, despite the Three Lions' dismal performances in South Africa, Brooking is turning his attentions back to his day job as the FA's director of youth development.

For him, that means trying to ensure England have enough coaches to develop youngsters who lack the technical ability required to make a significant impact on tournaments such as the World Cup.

At one stage, it did appear the NFC would be a finishing school for young players.

However, that notion was soon abandoned when the Premier League raised objections so now the NFC, or St George's Park as it was renamed earlier this year, will be the hub for Brooking's demands to improve youth coaching.

"The concept of a National Football Centre is vitally important for English football," he said. "Opening St George's Park at Burton-upon-Trent would provide the finishing school for producing more home-grown managers and coaches.

"It would be a place where the coaching community, from England to the local youth team, would have the same access to resources and experience to pass on to their players.

"We are the only leading football nation without a centre of this kind, but St George's Park will be something to be proud of – a symbol of national pride and hope for the future."