Capello rules out re-appointing Terry England captain

Terry cannot expect to get the armband back under Capello's reign

England coach Fabio Capello says John Terry will not regain the captaincy while he is in charge of the team.

Terry was stripped of the role after allegations about his private life, with Rio Ferdinand set to take over.

"Until the World Cup, Terry will not be the captain again. After the World Cup? If I remain as England manager? I think not," said Capello.

"I ask the captain to set an example for young people. What he did was not good. I told him this, he understood."

Manchester City's Wayne Bridge ruled himself out of England contention following allegations that former Chelsea team-mate Terry had an affair with his ex-girlfriend.

Capello named Terry in the squad for Wednesday's friendly with Egypt, and said that he would have been happy to pick Bridge as well if he had made himself available.

"I took the decision only [to take away the captaincy] because of what happened with Wayne Bridge, nothing else," he said.

"I didn't ever consider taking John Terry out of the squad, just as I didn't decide to take Wayne Bridge out. And I don't believe the other players will have lost respect for him because they know his leadership qualities."

Having been set to take over as captain, Manchester United's Ferdinand will miss the Egypt game at Wembley because of a back injury. That means Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will deputise in his absence.

Capello, meanwhile, said he did not understand the importance put on the captaincy role in English football.

"In Spain or Italy, the captain is the oldest player or the one with the most caps," the Italian said.

"Here it is different. You look at the captain in a different way.

"To me, being a leader is more important than being the captain. John Terry is a leader. I have asked him to be the same. He will be the same. He will be a leader without wearing the armband."

Capello said has not given up hope that Bridge may change his mind and feature in his second World Cup.

"We have three months to change the decision," said Capello.

"I opened the door to all players and now it is open in future for Wayne Bridge."

Asked if he agreed with the left back that it was in England's best interests for Bridge to rule himself out, Capello said: "No. It's like an injury now.

"Bridge has a different vision of life that he thinks it's better for him to stay out of the team - this is the opinion of the player, I think he can stay in the squad without problems," said Capello, who played for Italy at the 1974 World Cup.

"In my life as a player I played one World Cup - it's not easy to play at the World Cup, you often get one chance. He played in (2002) and this is another chance for him."

Fabio Capello warns England squad over conduct

England boss Fabio Capello has warned his players their off-field conduct will play a big part in whether they make this summer's World Cup squad.

Capello sacked John Terry as England captain over allegations of an affair with Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend.

Ashley Cole has also hit the headlines over his separation from wife Cheryl.

And Capello said: "The players have to understand what I want, if you want to stay with me. It will be very important because we need to create a group."

The Italian will stress the importance of team spirit and personal discipline when he talks to his players ahead of England's friendly with Egypt on 3 March.

With Cole sidelined by an ankle injury, Terry and Bridge are expected to be named in the squad to face the African champions when it is announced at the weekend and Capello believes there will be no negative effect on his preparations for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Capello is keen to build morale before England start their campaign against the United States on 12 June and revealed he will discuss recent off-field events with his players.

"The World Cup is really important for me, for England and for the players," he explained. "We have to stay together and compact in every moment. I think this will be my most important job - to recreate this spirit.

"After four months, we will meet the players next week and it will be a very important game for many reasons. One is also this [situation].

"We will talk about a lot of things because four months is a long time. If you can meet the players every month it is different. We will have two days to stay together but they are very strong days."

Capello is confident that Cole, his first choice left-back, will be fit for the World Cup finals but says Bridge will deputise until then.

"I spoke with Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti and our doctors spoke with Chelsea's doctors," added Capello. "We hope he will be fit in two months more or less and I think he will be ready for the World Cup.

"Wayne Bridge? Why not? He is a left-back. Cole and Bridge are the best left-backs."

There had been suggestions Bridge was considering his international future because he might be unwilling to play alongside Terry but Capello stated: "No, he will be with us. No problems about the other things."

Terry is keen to put the allegations behind him and insisted losing the England captaincy will not affect his attitude to playing for his country.

"I'm responding by doing what I've always done - by looking straight ahead. I've got broad shoulders and nobody's going to knock me out of my stride," he said.

"I am strong enough and passionate enough to know I will carry on delivering my best for club and country.

"Absolutely nothing will change. I've already admitted that losing the captaincy hurt but that's in the past and all I want to do now is move forward and carry on giving my best for England.

"I'm on a mission and nothing is going to distract me. I want to win the Champions League and Premier League for Chelsea and help win the World Cup for England.

"I'm not ashamed to say it, I wouldn't be John Terry if I felt any differently.

John Terry stripped of England captaincy by Capello

Bob de Bilde asks "Has the England manager been allowed to grow balls? After all the last time an England manager tried to show discipline over his team, a dressing room revolt (over Rio Ferdinand's ban for missing a drug test), led by Gary Neville overturned any respect the players may have had for the then England manager, and that may ultimately have led to the teams failure in subsequent tournaments."

John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy following allegations he had an affair with an England team-mate's ex-girlfriend.

Terry, 29, held talks with England boss Fabio Capello at Wembley on Friday.

"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 in a statement.

Terry, who has been replaced by fellow defender Rio Ferdinand, said he abided by Capello's decision to demote him.

"I fully respect Fabio Capello's decision," the Chelsea centre-half said in a statement. "I will continue to give everything for England."

Capello returned to the United Kingdom on Thursday and is thought to have been keen to resolve the Terry saga before travelling to Poland for Sunday's Euro 2012 draw.

The 63-year-old Italian, who has been recovering from knee surgery in Switzerland, has been monitoring the fall-out closely and regularly spoken to his trusted lieutenant Franco Baldini.

Baldini, England's general manager, held in-depth talks with four key Football Association board members on Monday - chairman Lord Triesman, chief executive Ian Watmore, director of communications Adrian Bevington and head of development Trevor Brooking.

They agreed that Capello alone would make the decision about Terry's future and that the priority was to make the right decision rather than a quick one.

"As a captain with the team, John Terry has displayed extremely positive behaviour," read Capello's statement.

"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.

"John Terry was notified first.

"When I chose John Terry as captain, I also selected a vice-captain (Ferdinand) and also named a third choice. There is no reason to change this decision.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the FA, particularly Lord David Triesman and Ian Watmore for allowing me to make this decision in my own time and in the best interest of the team."

England's next match is a home friendly against Egypt on 3 March as they continue their preparations for the World Cup in South Africa.

They will be lead out in that match by Ferdinand, with Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard moving to vice-captain.

Ferdinand, 31, is currently serving a four-match ban for violent conduct after only just returning to action following a three-month lay-off because of a back injury.

The Manchester United defender will hope to continue the form shown by England following Terry's appointment in August 2008.

In the 15 matches in which he wore the armband under Capello, England won 11 and drew two, qualifying easily for this year's World Cup.

A married father of twins, Terry is alleged to have had an affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the former girlfriend of England and former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge.

Bridge, who has a son with the French model, moved to Manchester City in January 2009 and is recovering from a knee injury that has kept him out of action for the last two months.

Meanwhile, Perroncel, a lingerie model and former nightclub hostess, said she would not be selling her story.

In a statement read on her behalf by publicist Max Clifford, Perroncel said: "I have decided I do not want to speak publicly about the speculation since it only seems to add more fuel to the fire.

"I have a three-year-old son and he is my main concern. I do not believe speaking to newspapers or the media is in his interest or my own."