It's a busy in-tray for the incoming FA chairman.
The FA are responsible for football at every level but those working at the grass roots are finding life tougher as hard-pressed local councils ask for big increases in fees for use of pitches and often substandard dressing rooms.
The much-vaunted Respect campaign has had limited success and now the FA’s own disciplinary system has been criticised after the failure to punish Wigan’s Callum McManaman this week. On the other hand, ex-referee Graham Poll and others accuse the governing body of not supporting officials.
Football’s poor image and financial problems as much as anything haveled to increased threats of a government regulator, which the FA will want to resist. Pressure for an increased number of independent directors may grow.
Rein in the Premier League
Originally it was the FA Premier League, a title then quietly dropped. Now the clubs and their umbrella organisation have so much money and influence that they can act in their own interests rather than the wider game’s.
Just as the Premier League was supposed to help the England team, so clubs need to be convinced to do more for the under-age sides, all of whom suffer badly from withdrawals especially at tournament time.
