The 12 members of the FA board refused to comment today as they prepare for the extraordinary meeting next Thursday which could result in England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's dismissal.

The board will have to decide whether any member of FA staff misled the organisation over Eriksson's affair with secretary Faria Alam, forcing them to retract a denial of the story when new evidence came to light.

If an inquiry into the matter concludes that Eriksson did mislead the FA, the board could charge him with gross misconduct and impose serious disciplinary measures.

Silent

However, the board members are staying silent on the issue for now, with Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe saying: "I believe it's a matter for the chairman of the board to comment on, not a board member."

Devon's FA representative David Henson did make his feelings on the matter known yesterday, claiming that the FA had been made to "look like idiots" by the series of events which followed the first publication of the story on July 18.

"It makes us look like idiots because there was a denial and then we were told that it did happen," Henson told The Guardian.

"We are left looking like mugs and that can't be right. We have been left high and dry.

"There's so many questions to answer and we will be expecting those to be answered this week.

"For an outsider looking in, it doesn't paint a very good picture."

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