Set the standard

One of the first tasks for Brooking is to re-establish a rapport with the players who threatened strike action when Ferdinand was left out of the squad for the Euro 2004 qualifying tie in Turkey following his failure to take a drugs test at Manchester United's Carrington training ground on 23 September.

Brooking, who begins his new job at Soho Square in a fortnight, will ask the England players for their opinions about what they consider to be inappropriate behaviour and what they believe should be the ground rules for selection for the international team.

He will also confirm to them what Eriksson has stated already - that Ferdinand will be welcomed back to the squad once he has served his eightmonth FA suspension.

Rebuilding the trust between the players and the FA will be one of Brooking's priorities as he embarks on a newlycreated role that makes him responsible for the development of the sport at all levels. The review of the selection process is a reaction to recent events involving Ferdinand and will come into immediate effect, providing the selection policy for the remainder of the season and the European Championship next summer.

And Brooking's recommendations will almost certainly be included in next season's policy changes that will be introduced as a result of Brendan Batson's review of FA disciplinary procedures.

It is clear that Mark Palios, the FA chief executive, is determined a new structure is in place before next season to avoid a repeat of the unruly and demeaning spectacle that has shrouded the Ferdinand affair.