Wembley sale ‘could boost grass-roots game by £1bn’
Martin Glenn, the chief executive of the Football Association, has said the sale of Wembley to Shahid Khan could allow the governing body to “unleash” £1billion of investment into grass-roots football.
Speaking to the FA Council for the first time yesterday, Glenn called for unity at the FA and attempted to appease those who oppose the deal, by reinforcing the revolutionary effect the sale could have on football in England.
The Daily Telegraph revealed this week that there were concerns among members of the 127-strong council that the strength of feeling against the deal in certain quarters could result in “civil war” at the FA. The governing body has been accused by more traditional council members of trying to “sell the soul” of English football.
It is understood that at yesterday’s summit, the first meeting of the council since the news broke of Khan’s £900 million offer, Glenn was quizzed about the valuation of the stadium and whether its sale was the right move in principle.
But, despite suggestions that FA executives might face a revolt and a vote of no confidence, the meeting was “calm” with “no fireworks”, according to one member. Doubts were raised over the deal, however, with a primary concern being whether the FA board had fully explored the costs of maintaining its new facilities.
Glenn attempted to reassure the dissenters in a speech in which he said “there is no need for drama, emotive language, or any meltdowns”. He told the council: “This is an opportunity to unleash an unprecedented amount of investment into community football. It’s an opportunity to make the FA a more profitable organisation yearon-year and increase investment; an opportunity to make us simpler and more focused on the essence of what the FA should be about – players, coaches and technical development for all.”
Glenn also outlined a “potential scenario” in which the FA could use the money from the sale to invest £1billion into community football within 10 years of completing a deal with Khan, the owner of Fulham and the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL franchise.
Glenn said: “What would £1billion in 10 years really mean in terms of football outcomes? It’s hard to be exact but let me try and paint you the picture. A doubling of 3G pitches across the country. Every county FA with its own hub facility. Parklife hubs and trusts across the major cities providing great pitches and revenue to improve grass pitches … major investment into the grass pitch improvement programme. Mini-pitches in schools. Indoor courts for Futsal development.”
Glenn and Greg Clarke, the FA chairman, appear to have been successful in heading off a potential uprising among council members, despite the vehement opposition to the deal by some members.
The sale to Khan does not have to be agreed by the FA Council to go ahead, but FA executives could face a vote of no confidence if they were to go against the council’s wishes.
Clarke aimed to soothe tensions by last week writing to members in advance of the meeting and explaining more of the rationale behind the FA’S thinking.
There remains a long way to go before any deal is completed, with a final decision not due until autumn at the earliest.
Glenn said: “Receiving an offer to sell Wembley Stadium is not a betrayal. It is not selling the soul of the game. Nor is it a desperate action by a desperate organisation. We do not need to sell, and we can and will do the things we have planned to do no matter what.”