FABIO CAPELLO yesterday brought a week of intense speculation to a clinical end, stripping John Terry of the England captaincy in an attempt to draw a line under an episode that threatened to derail England’s World Cup campaign before it has begun.

Terry was said to be shocked and devastated following his short meeting with Capello and the Italian’s assistant Franco Baldini but accepted the reasoning behind the decision. The possibility of further damaging revelations appearing over a weekend when Capello will be in Warsaw for the Euro 2012 qualifying draw is understood to have been a factor.

Terry trained with Chelsea yesterday morning before being driven to Wembley to face Capello for the first time since reports of his alleged affair with the former girlfriend of his international team-mate Wayne Bridge emerged a week ago, after a super-injunction preventing their reporting was lifted.

“I fully respect Fabio Capello’s decision. I will continue to give everything for England,” said Terry, who will be available for selection for the Egypt friendly at Wembley on March 3rd.

So, too, will Bridge, who is expected to return for Manchester City today against Hull City after two months out with injury. It is understood that Bridge, despite rumours to the contrary, is still keen to play international football and retains World Cup ambitions.

Despite a long week of debilitating speculation, when the end to Terry’s reign as England captain came, it was sudden.

In a meeting lasting less than 20 minutes Fabio Capello and his right-hand man Franco Baldini asked Terry to explain himself before informing him that he would be relieved of the role for the good of the team.

“After much thought I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry,” said Capello, who replaced him immediately with the vice-captain, Rio Ferdinand, and moved the third choice, Steven Gerrard, up to the deputy’s role.

“As a captain with the team John Terry has displayed extremely positive behaviour. However, I have to take into account other considerations and what is best for all of the England squad. What is best for all of the England team has inspired my choice.”

Ferdinand, who is no stranger to controversy himself after serving an eight-month ban in 2004 for missing a drugs test, has featured in only four of England’s last 12 internationals,

The FA had been keen to stress that the decision would be Capello’s alone and taken on footballing rather than moral grounds.

Baldini’s soundings from other members of the squad, from Bridge, from the managers of both players and from lawyers and the media about the likelihood of fresh revelations are likely to have played a major part. It is believed Bridge was contacted by a senior figure within the England camp and informed of the decision.

Capello hopes the action he has taken is enough to persuade Bridge to remain within the England set-up and maintain the harmony which has been built up so much since the Italian took over a shell-shocked squad following their failure to reach Euro 2008.

Terry is already playing his part, insisting he will “continue to give everything for England”.

Although the FA continually stressed this week that Capello would base his verdict purely on football issues, that was clearly impossible given the nature of Terry’s behaviour.

As someone who has had the benefit of a stable family life, Capello was presumably as bemused by Terry’s antics as he was by the mass of camera crews awaiting his arrival at Heathrow Airport yesterday.

And, as Terry was at Wembley for only 13 minutes, it appears Capello’s mind was already made up.

All that was required was the personal touch, Capello preferring to swing the axe right in front of the man he chose as his on-field leader in August 2008.

The decision not only proves Capello is not scared to take big decisions, it is also a clear warning to every other member of the England squad that similar behaviour will not be tolerated.

But, just as he did when he replaced Steve McClaren, Capello has brought a sense of clarity to very murky waters.

Guardian Service