Clarke quit threat if his FA plan fails

GREG CLARKE has threatened to quit as Fa chairman if his proposals for major reform in the governance of English football’s ruling body do not meet with Government approval.

Clarke is taking personal responsibility for pushing through the changes opposed by reactionary Fa councillors, saying he will have failed in his leadership role if he cannot do so.

The resignation ultimatum was made in a statement last night ahead of a Commons debate tomorrow on Fa governance.

That is regarded as ill-timed and unnecessary by the Fa, who are committed to meeting Minister for Sport Tracey Crouch’s deadline of a reform agenda by april or lose £30million of public funding for grassroots football.

Clarke said: ‘We are not sitting idly by. We have a set of proposals which we will ratify and take to the Minister for Sport for approval. Change won’t be easy, but I’m confident it will happen and it will be substantial.

‘If the Government is not supportive of the changes when we present them, I will take personal responsibility for that. I will have failed. I will be accountable for that failure and would in due course step down.’

But Clarke added: ‘I don’t believe the Fa are failing football. That’s completely different and I strongly dispute the motion put in front of Parliament that the Fa are not meeting their duties as a governing body.’ ENGLAND

Test cricket captain elect Joe Root is still considered somewhat unreliable by members of the backroom staff. The star batsman, 26, is often one of the last to have his bags packed and ready for collection on tour. But Root (right) does not consider such off-field logistics as especially important in the grand scheme, preferring to devote all his energy and focus to what happens out in the middle. ENGLAND cricketers Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes have been given permission to miss two one- day games against Ireland so they can extend their likely Indian Premier league stints until May 14. The pair, who both have full central contracts, will then head off to a Champions Trophy training camp in Spain.

less certainty surrounds how long Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan will be allowed to stay in India by the ECB. and if limited-overs captain Morgan skips the Ireland games after opting out of the Bangladesh tour over security worries, it will cause yet more confusion. TWICKENHAM

is not the only stadium with the serious problem of spectators being interrupted by those on trips to and from the bar. A Leicester rugby supporter reports having to stand up nine times for the same thirsty fan to pass during a game at Welford Road.