FA aims to appoint new chairman by March 2021
T h e Fo otba l l A s s o c i at io n hopes to appoint a new chairman by the end of March 2021 after Greg Clarke’s ignominious exit on Tuesday.
Clarke resigned on Tuesday after making a series of offensive remarks during an evidence session with MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, including using the word “coloured”.
Peter McCormick, who chairs the FA’s professional game board, has been appointed as interim chairman and will assist chief executive Mark Bullingham in the hunt for Clarke’s permanent successor. Bullingham said in a statement: “With other board directors, Peter and I are finalising the process for recruitinganewindependentchairof the FA. Our aim is to have one in place by the end of the first quarter.
“Our process will be open and conform to the Diversity Code, ensuring that we are able to select the best candidate from a diverse talent pool.
“We know that football has the power to unite and bring people together. We have a clear and focused vision on how we will dothat, improving opportunities within football by breaking down barriers so that we have an inclusive game that we can all be proud of.
“We absolutely recognise that there is more work to be done, but our commitment and passion to help improve lives, embrace diversity and create opportunities will remain fundamental to our organisation for years to come.”
Kick It Out executive chair Sanjay Bhandari, who was scathingly critical of Clarke, has ruled himself out of the running for the position, but says he is happy to offer any assistance he can in identifying the right person.
“I don’t think the FA is going to ask me about the role,” he said.
“I’m still relatively new to football, it’s way too early for someone like me. But I am really happy to offer any help they need in identifying the next candidate.
“It’s important we have a good relationship with the leadership of the FA and I have really good relationships with the chief executive (Mark Bullingham) and lots of other people at the FA, but I don’t think they will be knocking on my door.”
Paul Elliott, the chairman of the FA’s inclusion advisory board, has been reported as a contender, while Bobby Barnes, the deputy chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association also has strong credentials, as has the FA’s head of women’s football Baroness Sue Campbell.