John Terry: Why It Was Right to Relieve Him of the England Captaincy

My mother used to tell me one thing over and over again. Once is funny, twice is irritating.

Unfortunately for John Terry, the first time wasn’t so much funny as disrespectful, and twice wasn’t irritating, it was just embarrassing.

The sacking of Terry for the second time—something that no England captain has been subjected to before—shouldn't have had to happen again. It was an error for Fabio Capello to hand him the arm band for a second time after he has been stripped of the captaincy following his affair with the wife of his then-England teammate, Wayne Bridge.

However, I believe that the FA has made the correct decision, and a brave one, to remove Terry as England captain.

Other players, especially his defensive partner Rio Ferdinand, would have found it difficult to play at 100 percent of their ability with such a divisive leader.

Ferdinand has already made his feeling known on the subject, taking to Twitter to criticise the decision of Terry’s trial, saying : “Morning world!! I feel insulted....woke up with a bad taste in my mouth....its a god damn joke!”

Now, though, the FA must get their house in order and appoint a new England captain, and many would have looked towards Ferdinand for the answer. Twitter, however, has once again clarified the Manchester United players view on the subject: “I don't want to be England captain after the last episode, just want to concentrate on playin for (Manchester United)…”

So who gets the job of leading the nation's hopes to Poland and the Ukraine?

Steven Gerrard might be a popular choice, but at 31 he might be seen as a backwards step.

Other viable candidates could include the reborn Scott Parker, now firmly established as a top Premiership player and one of the first names on Capello’s team sheet.

Rooney, too, might be in the back of the Italian’s mind, but his temperament and occasional immaturity would serve as counterproductive to any ambition of his to captain his country, not to mention the fact that he is banned for the first two games of the tournament.

Joe Hart? It’s hard for a 'keeper to captain, they are too far away from the action.

Whoever it is, and this is Capello, remember, so he might pull a rabbit out of the hat, he will have the eyes and ears of the nation upon him, ready to jump on any indiscretion.