After another tepid performance from his England team on Wednesday night Fabio Capello dropped another clanger by announcing that David Beckham is no longer part of his plans. Capello’s bizarre announcement on TV is likely to get more coverage in the press than the match that everyone had turned up to see.

The FA have today announced that David Beckham had been told in a telephone conversation with Franco Baldini prior to the interview with Capello that he no longer was part of Capello’s plans. This however is unlikely to appease the press and fans as they will no doubt believe that Beckham, England’s most capped outfield player deserved to be told first hand by the manager himself.

It’s the latest in a string of mistakes by Capello that seem to be coming a feature of the Italian’s management style.