England's players received a motivational postcard from Sam Allardyce two days after he had left his job as national team manager.
The team will play their second and third World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia over the next 12 days but preparations have been thrown into disarray after Allardyce's contract was terminated by mutual consent on Tuesday evening.
Allardyce made a series of controversial remarks to undercover reporters from the Daily Telegraph and lost his job after just one match and 67 days but a postcard headed "The Journey Has Begun" was already on it way to the players, followed by a printed message from Allardyce.
Big Sam's motivational postcards to his players - "Our Journey Has Begun" - turn up on their doorsteps YESTERDAY https://t.co/GBDdvURt8M
- John Cross (@johncrossmirror) September 30, 2016
"Well done! Our journey has begun with our first win together,'' he said. "Looking forward to seeing you soon.''
The development follows the FA having to write off around £25,000 worth of t-shirts ahead of Malta's visit to Wembley next Saturday.
There were 4,000 t-shirts printed with a message from Allardyce for the World Cup qualifier, but understandably they will no longer see the light of day.