Association, around 40 hours after being voted into the post.

Trott yesterday presented his resignation letter to the man who beat him by the narrowest possible margin in Monday's election for the BFA presidency, Neville Tyrrell.

Trott told Tyrrell in the letter that resigning the post was the "honourable and most respectful gesture I could make to you''.

Another election will now be needed to choose a new second vice-president, opening the way for Elroy Ratteray, the man ousted by Trott, to attempt to reclaim the post.

Trott lost the presidential election at Monday's AGM on the casting vote of presiding officer Eugene Blakeney after a 12-12 tie. He was then nominated for the post of second vice-president and defeated Ratteray on an 18-6 vote.

In his letter to Tyrrell yesterday, Trott first congratulated the re-elected president on his victory, before informing him of his resignation.

The letter continued: "I realise that you deserve the very best environemt to operate in and to pursue your goals for football. I would like to think differently, but at the first sign of discontentment, outsiders will speculate that there may be internal problems within the BFA between you and I.

"As I am very passionate about this sport, I am not prepared to allow that to happen to football, to you or myself.

"In closing, I am comforted that those who ultimately control football and its development (i.e. the affiliates) do realise that they must take charge of the sport and work together to make changes.

"At the end of the day, if football comes out the winner and FIFA's slogan of `FAIR PLAY' is upheld, then everyone's efforts will not have been in vain.'' Tyrrell said yesterday: "The only comment I have to make is that I have received a letter from Mr Trott, which will be discussed with the executive in due course.'' He declined to comment on who he would like to see replace Trott in his administration.

Trott spoke for the first time about the AGM yesterday and admitted he had been taken aback by losing the presidential ballot, having gone into the meeting with a petition signed by 15 affiliates who had pledged their support to him.

"I was very surprised by the vote,'' said Trott. "I had always anticipated there would be one or two who might change their minds.

"But I had developed a good rapport with the affiliates and I thought they would have informed me if they were going to change their vote.'' The repercussions of losing the vote were still sinking in when Trott was nominated for second vice president and he confessed that events had overtaken him. "In my mind, I was still going through the process which had just taken place,'' said Trott. "I was not really concentrating on what was going on in the meeting. I can't even remember who nominated me. My mind was somewhere else.'' Serving on the same executive with the man he had challenged for the presidency could have created difficulties, even if they had only been perceived difficulties, added Trott.

He explained: "We clearly have different football philosophies, but I felt that if things were going well and then something went wrong, people might say it was because we were not getting along -- even if that wasn't true. People have long memories.'' Trott added that he intended to take a break from football for now, but he hoped to have some kind of future in the game he loved. And there was a possibility he would stand for the BFA presidency again at some time in the future.

"I have made a lot of good friendships over the past few weeks and I would really like to thank the dozen who voted for me,'' said Trott.

"I also want to thank my wife and my parents for their support and others who have helped me with their advice and wisdom.'' Mark Trott: resigned BFA post.