London, Jan 8 : Kevin Pietersen was forced into resigning as England Test and one-day captain after all rounder Andrew Flintoff and new skipper Andrew Strauss refused to back him and ECB's Managing Director Hugh Morris hinted at divisions in the team.

The England and Wales Cricket Board could not forgive Pietersen who was demanding Moores to be axed for issuing his `back me or sack me' ultimatum last week and Pietersen had no idea that several senior England players such as Flintoff and Strauss also refused to back him when asked to do so by England boss Morris.

The role of Andrew Flintoff in his downfall will be keenly discussed. Flintoff and Strauss - named KP's replacement - are understood to have stuck the knife in.

And England boss Morris hinted at divisions in the team when he said: "Kevin recognised that, in the present situation, it was impossible to restore dressing-room unity."

Pietersen's fate was sealed during a conference call between the 12-man ECB management board on Tuesday evening when it was agreed he and coach Peter Moores must go, The Sun reported.

After a day of frantic negotiating on Wednesday, Pietersen was finally allowed to save some face by announcing that he had resigned.

Morris added: "Kevin Pietersen is highly valued as a senior and experienced player and we are delighted he has indicated he wishes to continue to represent England in all forthcoming matches.

"I have an extremely high regard for Kevin but this has become an impossible situation given the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship between captain and coach."

Pietersen arrives back in England this morning from his holiday in Africa and he could scarcely conceal his fury. (ANI)