England's players received a postcard from Sam Allardyce two days after he had left his post as national team manager.
The team will play their second and third qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia over the next 12 days but preparations have been thrown into disarray after Allardyce's contract was terminated by mutual consent on Tuesday evening. Allardyce made a series of controversial remarks to undercover reporters from the Daily Telegraph and lost his job after just one match and 67 days.
It was an outcome that some within the dressing room are believed to have expected once footage of the incident emerged, although the players may have been more surprised to then get a message in the post from the departed manager on Thursday.
A postcard headed 'The Journey Has Begun' was sent to players, followed by a printed message from Allardyce.
"Well done! Our journey has begun with our first win together," he said. "Looking forward to seeing you soon."
Press Association Sport understands the postcards were Allardyce's idea and sent out on Monday afternoon, so irretrievable by the time the Telegraph published its story later that day.
The development follows the FA having to write off around £25,000 worth of t-shirts ahead of Malta's visit to Wembley next Saturday.
There were 4,000 t-shirts printed with a message from Allardyce for the World Cup qualifier, but understandably they will no longer see the light of day.