TERRY HAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS WEAKNESSES

NO CONTRITION and, contrary to what he might believe, no way back.

It was a measure of John Terry's staggering self-delusion that he walked into a meeting with Fabio Capello apparently expecting an arm around the shoulder, a cup of tea and a garibaldi biscuit.

And it is a measure of his staggering self-delusion that he apparently believes there is a possibility he may captain England again.

To steal a line from Don King, there are two chances of that happening, slim and none... and slim has long since packed his bags and headed out of town.

And do you know what has brought a definitive and sad end to a captaincy that brought England success on the field?

Not so much a litany of transgressions but that, to this day - with misdemeanours teeming down like winter rain - he believes he has done nothing wrong.

He's gutted but not remorseful. It hurts but he's not sorry.

He looks every inch a man in denial.

And it cost him the chance to reclaim some desperately-needed dignity. The swift brutality of Fabio Capello's decision was humiliating for Terry.

Couch it any terms you want but Terry was sacked as England captain.

Stripped of the honour by his boss, he had to give back the armband like a disgraced cop handing in his badge.

The ruthlessness of the denouement could have been avoided had Terry shown even a modicum of self-awareness.

How did he ever believe he could survive as captain?

Cobham may be an exclusive enclave, insulated by Louis Vuitton and infested by WAGs and Bentley- driving young men with little grasp of society's rules, but can it really that far detached from reality? Or are Terry's advisers - just like the entourage of agents who dared not have a word in Tiger Woods' ear when he was spiralling out of control - too scared to tell him some home truths?

Yes, the England captaincy must be hellishly tough to give up.

But only Terry must have genuinely thought he could hang on to it.

Him and Vanessa Perroncel, judging by her shocked look as she stood next to Max Clifford when the fateful yellow ticker tape streamed across the screen.

Terry could have avoided the ignominy of Friday had he come out early last week and said that he realised the continuing saga and previous bad publicity had rendered his position untenable.

That - for the sake of his family, his team-mates, for England, for Capello and his task ahead - he was stepping aside as captain but would empty every last drop of breath to help his country win the World Cup.

As this incomparable defender surely still will, by the way.

Because the only positive aspect of such a blinkered, obstinate nature is that, in Terry's case, it manifests itself in a fearless, almost indestructible approach to the game.

An England team without new captain Rio Ferdinand at the heart of defence is imaginable.

An England team without John Terry at the heart of defence is unthinkable.

But first, when they convene ahead of next month's game against Egypt, Terry has bridges to build.

He may have received darkly humorous messages of support from senior team-mates but there is little doubt that some have had their respect for him seriously undermined.

Will he acknowledge this? And take measures to make sure dressing-room unity is maintained? Probably not.

Terry does not believe he needs to salvage any pride.

But his concept of pride has been his downfall. Despite promptings from well-meaning people, he refused to say sorry in his meeting with Capello.

That, he thought, would be a sign of weakness.

In denial AND deluded.

Rather than pursue fantasies of regaining the captaincy, it is time now for Terry to learn that strength comes in acknowledging weakness.

One of his predecessors as England captain did it - and Tony Adams is admired a whole lot more for having done so.

A sporting legend had this to say a couple of days ago.

"He has to take ownership of what he has done.

"He has to show some humility. I would come out and say: 'You know what? I screwed up.

'And I admit it. I am going to try and change. I am trying to change.' "

It was Tom Watson talking about Tiger Woods.

But as a closing verdict on this whole, sorry Terry saga, it could not have been more fitting.

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