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FA chief executive Martin Glenn defended over Mark Sampson sacking

Baroness Sue Campbell, the UK's head of women's football, has backed Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn over the sacking of England women's coach Mark Sampson.

Sampson's contract was terminated on Wednesday based on evidence of "inappropriate and unacceptable" behaviour in a previous role contained in a safeguarding report.

Glenn and FA chairman Greg Clarke are under fierce scrutiny over why it took so long to sack the 34-year-old in relation to allegations first reported to the FA in 2014.

FA executives will appear before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee next month to face questions.

But Baroness Campbell said Glenn, appointed chief executive in March 2015, should not lose his job.

She told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "We at the FA have lessons to learn, but I believe Martin is doing an amazing job turning round a super tanker.

"He is an outstanding chief executive and he has handled this with complete integrity in terms of the process.

"This has not been comfortable for anybody, and we need to respect there is some human pain in all this for everybody. It's a tough situation.

"I am 100 percent hopeful no one will lose their job because I don't think anyone deserves to. I believe we are doing a good job at the FA.

"There are lessons to be learned, but I am sure Martin will ensure we learn those lessons and nothing of this nature happens again in the future."

Sampson's career seems to be in tatters following his dismissal, which also came amid allegations of racism -- of which he was twice cleared and had fiercely denied -- by England player Eni Aluko.

But asked whethr it would be impossible for him to get another coaching role, Campbell added: "I hope not, because Mark Sampson has taken those players from 14th in the world to third in the world.

"I hope over time people will understand that whatever mistakes people make we can move on, and people need to be given another chance."

She said it was hoped that an interim England coach could be announced by the end of next week, with a new permanent boss potentially in place by early next year.

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