Fan power won’t save Dyke reform

FA chairman Greg Dyke is going to need plenty of fan power if his much-needed council reforms are to have any chance of being accepted.

Dyke is sure to receive a rough ride from the blazers at today’s special council meeting at Wembley to discuss the governance proposals aimed mainly at replacing the massive county FA dominance of the chamber with a more equitable representation from all areas of football.

But such is the county contingent’s upset at Dyke’s plans and his attitude towards them there seems no chance of them agreeing to the changes as they stand.

However, the wider game will be a lot more supportive. And as well as going around the country explaining the necessity of modernising the FA council, Dyke will be asking for supporter feedback.

He will be hoping the weight of fan opinion will put enough pressure on the council to look to the future themselves — much in the same way Liverpool fans forced their club to backtrack on the price of Anfield tickets.

But with the national game representatives on the council — where they enjoy a 70 per cent majority — confirming their strong opposition yesterday, it is more likely that most of Dyke’s reforms will be kicked into the long grass when a vote is taken in May.

FA independent director Heather Rabbatts has taken the lead in informing company secretary Richard McDermott about the potential conflict of her husband Mike Lee working on FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino’s campaign when the FA board discuss today who they will back in next week’s election. Rabbatts will not take part in any vote on the subject and her board colleagues will decide whether she stays in the room for the debate. However, it is a foregone conclusion that the FA will back Infantino. THE RFU in their wisdom have decided that as part of their micromanagement of the media, none of England’s exciting youngsters, led by Maro Itoje, will be put up for interview. But after the World Cup debacle, the RFU need to promote new England talent, not over-protect it. And 20-year- old Itoje (above), an Old Harrovian who studies politics at the London School of Oriental and African Studies and writes poetry, is more than capable of talking to the press.

THE decision by Sally Bolton to quit as managing director of London 2017 after losing a power struggle with UK Athletics for the control of the World Championships next year had plenty of similarities with Debbie Jevans walking out as chief executive of England Rugby 2015 six months before the World Cup. Intriguingly, Jevans is now a candidate to be Greater London Authority’s choice as co-chairman of London 2017.