The Football Association have appointed a new chief executive, opting for an internal candidate in current chief commercial and football development officer Mark Bullingham.
Sportsmail were the first to reveal earlier this month that Bullingham, who joined the governing body in 2016, had made it on to the final shortlist.
Indeed it then emerged he was down to the final two, with Barclays retail bank director Chris Pilling understood to be the other candidate.
But Bullingham is highly-regarded by senior figures at Wembley and his appointment was approved at Thursday's FA board meeting.
While he is expected to succeed outgoing CEO Martin Glenn as soon as possible, Glenn has agreed to stay on as part of a handover process and plans to be at both the Nations League finals with the senior men's team as well as the FIFA Women's World Cup this summer.
Prior to joining the FA Bullingham was the CEO of a sports and entertainment marketing agency, and his appointment means Wembley have their new chief executive before the Premier League despite beginning their search later and employing the same firm of head-hunters.