Clarke rips into FA blazers over reform
FA CHAIRMAN Greg Clarke has launched a scathing attack on council blazers who spoke out following the Commons no-confidence motion on football governance reform.
Clarke said he was dismayed by comments which had discredited the organisation. His anger was mainly directed at dinosaur former FA board member Ray Kiddell and fellow FA life vicepresident Keith Compton. Along with a third LVP, Ray Berridge, they have received letters from the FA asking for an explanation of their remarks.
Kiddell told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘At the moment we’ve got a Buddhist and a Muslim on the council. Now who else do we put on the council, a Jew?’ Compton said: ‘If those people were interested enough and we had enough people, then we’d have enough women and other people on the FA.’ And Berridge added: ‘The right reform package has not been put forward.’
FA company secretary Richard McDermott then sent out an email reminding all blazers of a code of conduct which forbids them discussing FA business with the media unless it is explicitly part of their remit. The email also said all media approaches should be redirected to the FA communications department.
But forthright Clarke’s follow-up message said: ‘Some of the utterances from council members have brought discredit upon the FA. I am dismayed. This is not about political correctness. It is about respect for all. We are an inclusive game, proud to welcome all who play, referee, coach, administer or volunteer, irrespective of colour, creed, gender, disability or sexual orientation.’
lODIOUS
spin doctor and Burnley fan Alastair Campbell (right) was responsible for his club’s doomed innovation of having OAP mascots — ages ranging from 69 to 89 — for the FA Cup tie against non-League Lincoln. A Burnley spokesman said: ‘Alastair had seen it happen abroad and we took his suggestion on board. It was one of the highlights of the day.’ Whether the curse of Campbell is ever repeated after such an embarrassing home defeat is another matter. THE Premier League should tell departing referee Mark Clattenburg where he can go when he meets them to discuss whether he stays on the elite list until the end of the season before starting his new role in Saudi Arabia. When Sports Agenda inquired a fortnight ago about Clattenburg stepping down for other ventures, the unequivocal message back from the PL — after talking to tricky Clattenburg — was that their top ref was keen to carry on until at least the 2018 World Cup. One week later he was off, although he will take charge of at least four more Premier League games this season.
lTYMAL MILLS is more deserving than most English cricketers of his staggering £1.4m Indian Premier League windfall, having supported his single-parent mum financially since the age of 12 by regularly getting up at 4.30am for a three-hour shift on a Suffolk market stall before school.
Chelsea pull Purslow
CHELSEA’S departing managing director Christian Purslow has been pulled out of a Sport Industry Breakfast Club appearance this morning. Purslow was sure to have been asked why he was going after two years heading a commercial department that secured shirt supply and sponsorships deals only Manchester United have bettered in the PL. Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said Purslow would continue to work with the club in a transition period until the end of the season. But the difficult Purslow, who had a fraught relationship with most of the Chelsea hierarchy, said his club goodbyes last week and is understood to be on gardening leave until May.
lMANCHESTER
United’s old-fashioned website has been unloved during the past decade of huge digital change. This explains the appointment as Media CEO of Phil Lynch, former Yahoo and Sony executive, whose priority will be to modernise the site.