FA give Eriksson ally the chop

One of England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's closest aides at the English Football Association has been made redundant.

Paul Newman, head of communications, fell victim to the FA's current cost cutting in which they are aiming to downsize the workforce by 20 percent.

In the past nine months Eriksson has suffered the loss of two other members of his closest circle, albeit in different circumstances, with the departure of former chief executive Adam Crozier and coaching assistant Steve McClaren.

But the FA's marketing and communications director Paul Barber insisted: "Sven is aware of the situation and, although he is obviously disappointed, he understands the painful decisions which have been made.

"He believes in the team ethic around the England squad, as we all do. As well as myself, there are many members of the team around him who have been here since the day he arrived.

"They are key people and have no plans to go anywhere else."

Barber said that the FA was cutting its costs to weather the uncertain economic climate.

"We are doing this as quickly and painlessly as possible, although nothing like this can be pain-free.

"We've lost some extremely able staff and it is a bitterly disappointing day for all of us at the FA."

He added: "Clearly the priority now is to focus the team on a busy schedule ahead, with three England fixtures and an FA Cup final in the space of the next two months."