McClaren refused to resign in the immediate aftermath of tonight's 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley, which ended England's hopes of reaching next summer's European Championships.

But, while McClaren also declined to discuss his future, the 12-man FA executive will sit in judgement in the morning - and their verdict is not likely to be positive.

It had been reported at the weekend - before England were handed an unexpected reprieve by Israel with their win over Russia - that a seven-three vote had already been taken to remove McClaren from his post.

This has been denied by the FA, although it is difficult to see how a majority of the committee can come down in McClaren's favour, especially as chief executive Brian Barwick and chairman Geoff Thompson do not have a vote.

The members of the committee, including Manchester United chief executive David Gill, Bolton chairman Phil Gartside and Football League chairman Brian Mawhinney will surely find it impossible to back McClaren, whose side were booed off the field at the final whistle.

McClaren has consistently argued he should be given time, on the basis that after a woeful start to his 18-game tenure, results and performances had picked up - with the exception of what he perceived to be a 'mad five minutes' against Russia last month.

However, that argument was exploded by a truly awful England performance this evening.

Needing only a point to qualify against a team who were already through, England quickly fell two goals adrift, the first following a catastrophic error from Scott Carson, in whom McClaren had placed so much faith.

The half-time introduction of David Beckham triggered an unexpected revival, as Frank Lampard converted a penalty before Beckham set up Peter Crouch for the equaliser.

Even then though, England could not hang on and Mladen Petric's well-taken effort 13 minutes from time finished them off.

"I understand why I am being asked but I will not be offering my resignation," declared McClaren.

"I am not going to discuss my future. I don't think it is the right time coming so soon after a huge disappointment."

However, McClaren did accept the buck for such a disastrous failure - which will cost the FA a minimum of £8million - stopped with him and admitted he should be judged on the 12-game campaign.

England lost three times and pick up just one point from their three most difficult away games during the qualifying series.

"I take responsibility," he said.

"Ultimately, I said judge me over 12 games. We deserve to be where we finish. We have not deserved to qualify. That is my responsibility."

McClaren defended his decision to play Scott Carson, whose blunder gifted Croatia their early lead.

Carson committed the cardinal goalkeeping sin of not getting his body behind the ball as Niko Kranjcar let fly with a speculative effort from 25 yards and the shot spun off the hapless Aston Villa keeper and flew into the net.

"I don't think it was a mistake to play Scott," he said.

"I thought he was ready and I stick by that.

"The conditions were difficult and the ball took a wicked dip.

"He made a fantastic save to keep us in the game at the start of the second half. Ultimately, on a pitch like that there was going to be mistakes. We made too many."

For all McClaren's backing of a man he stuck his neck out to pick ahead of an admittedly error-prone Paul Robinson, the mistake put England on the back foot.

Croatia grabbed a second through Ivica Olic not long afterwards and looked like they were set for many more until the introduction of Beckham transformed the contest in England's favour.

Even then though, the hosts were unable to hang on and while the derision at the final whistle was not on the same scale as McClaren and his team have experienced before, it was more through stunned amazement than anything else.

"We are still taking in the fact we won't be there next summer," said McClaren.

"It is too soon to say why we played so badly.

"Mistakes cost us and the start cost us. It always going to be difficult after that.

"We knew we would have to take risks. Croatia are a good team. They looked like scoring every time they went forward.

"I thought we would be harder to beat. To concede three goals at Wembley was unthinkable before the game.

"The pain we are feeling is massive, indescribable. We are talking about a nation.

"There is so much expectation, from the fans in the stadium and the people watching at home. We have let them down. We have failed to qualify and we have not delivered."