FA chiefs to dodge axe over Sampson
IT looks like all the chief protagonists in the Mark sampson scandal that has sent the FA into meltdown will survive the crisis.
It is understood the view on the FA board is that it will now need more revelations for chairman Greg Clarke, chief executive Martin Glenn or technical director Dan Ashworth to lose their jobs.
And the procedural and operations review that the FA are undertaking before reporting back to the FA council in January is not expected to uncover any more skeletons.
Certainly England’s Under 17 World Cup victory, which capped an unprecedented year for the junior national teams, has helped keep Ashworth in situ at st George’s Park, while having Premier league executive chairman Richard scudamore’s backing is very helpful to Glenn’s cause.
Probably it is now Clarke, after his truly appalling performance in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and sport select committee, who is the most vulnerable of the trio to any fresh exposure of FA failings.
ENGLAND’s Ashes cricketers are intent on forming their own code- of- conduct strategy in Australia without rules being laid down for them following the Ben stokes affair.
It is understood that captain Joe Root and the senior players want to work out their own dos and don’ts on tour. Their plan is to self-police with the whole squad buying into the process.
The detail includes senior pro Alastair Cook being strong about certain standards being maintained at team meals, especially no using of mobile phones and nobody wearing caps.
THE RFU have ensured that the poppy emblem will be woven into the sleeve of the England shirt for the Remembrance Day autumn international against Argentina at Twickenham while the same symbol will only be on England footballers’ armbands the night before against Germany at Wembley. The RFU may have fanciful strategic ambitions of becoming the country’s strongest sport, but they have proved to be on this issue.