Martin Glenn says parting company with England manager Sam Allardyce was "a painful decision but the right decision" for protecting The FA's integrity.
The chief executive spoke to FATV on Tuesday evening after it was mutually agreed to end Allardyce's reign as Three Lions boss.
Read the full transcript of the interview:
Martin, a difficult 24 hours I am sure. How did The FA come to the decision to part company with Sam Allardyce?
"A very difficult 24 hours. In the light of the media allegations that we've seen, we've concluded – and Sam's agreed – that his behaviour has been inappropriate and frankly not what is expected of an England manager.
"Discussing a range of issues from potential contraventions of FA rules through to personal comments frankly just don't work when you're the manager of England."
Just how hard was that decision, given it has come so soon in Sam's reign?
"It's been a really painful decision because obviously we've only just hired Sam, and Sam we think is a great fit for England manager and we think could have been extremely successful. But The FA is more than just running the England men's team. We have to stand up for the right behaviours across the whole game.
"We are the guardians of the game – we set the rules and we have to be seen to apply those rules consistently and evenly, whether you are the England manager or someone low down in the organisation.
"That consistency, that trust that people have in us to behave in the appropriate manner, is core to what any football association is about and certainly true of the English football association. It's a painful decision because we thought he was a great manager, but it's the right decision if we are to protect the integrity of The FA."
It is a mutual decision. How has Sam taken the news?
"Sam is absolutely distraught. He recognises that he made a terrible error of judgement and I think that he recognises as well that, whilst it's a tough decision that The FA is taking, he can see that at least we have a point.
"Once again, I have to say how personally disappointed I am. I thought Sam had already made a big difference to The FA – he came to St. George's Park and showed real leadership there and had clear enthusiasm for the job at hand.
"I know personally that he is deeply, deeply upset and deeply regrets the error of judgement but I also think that he understands why The FA has had to take this tough decision."
What happens next? The squad, of course, is due to meet up in less than a week ahead of the games against Malta and Slovenia.
"We're in good hands. Gareth Southgate, the under-21 coach who has got really good international experience and Premier League experience, will take charge of the team for the next four games, from Malta through to the friendly against Spain.
"He's got good back-office support and we'll be having a planning meeting with him later on this week, and we plan to go and win those games."
In terms of securing a permanent replacement, how will that process work?
"It's been a busy 24 hours, so you might imagine that we haven't got a process in place but job one is to secure the England team, which with Gareth we are doing.
"Job two is to reflect on what lessons need to be learned from what we've just gone through and how that might approach a new search – but I think the criteria of the person we're looking for will stay the same.
"The challenge is, with a very talented group of England players, how do you get the best out of them in tournaments? That's still the job to be done."
Glenn speaks to FATV following Allardyce's departure