Crisis talks for 2018 World Cup bid team

England's 2018 World Cup bid leaders will hold an emergency meeting later today to get the campaign back on track.

A special board meeting is expected to discuss ways to restructure and focus more attention on winning the votes of the 24 FIFA executive members.

Lord Triesman is coming under increasing pressure in his £100,000 per year role as chairman of the bid and the meeting will also attempt to end the internal feuding.

Some directors are unhappy at the handling of the damaging remarks by FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, while others believe the Government have reneged on promises to provide £5million towards the £15m cost involved.

Richard Caborn, the Prime Minister's 2018 ambassador, insisted the Government was completely behind the bid but said: "We do believe that the bid requires some re-organisation and a new direction to allow the team to direct its focus on winning the votes we need rather than domestic squabbling.

"If that means that there is a need to scale down political involvement and withdraw then we will do that. If they argue that we are an impediment to the campaign we will listen."