For too long now the fans - who are pouring a lot of money
For too long now, the fans - who are pouring a lot of money into football - have had no formal representation or power. I hope that the new chief executive has a football background based on all levels of the game. Because that is the crucial thing about the FA: it can't just be for the Premier and Nationwide Leagues, it must represent every English club.ALISON PILLINGFSA chairwomanIt is fairly clear to us that the FA has been split for some time. Now that David Davies has stepped into the breach and said that he would be looking for new links with supporters' organisations, we hope that this is more than just a sound-bite and that the FA will really change. PAUL HUNTER Football Conference chair When Graham Kelly joined the Football Association, he had a great deal of experience in football administration. During his time in office, he did try to understand the issues facing non-League clubs, but never really got to grips with them. That is something we should aim for in the future, and with changes in the Football Association, I would hope they recognise this and, together with the Premier League, always make sure that a right and proper candidate is submitted." Blatter will not be losing much sleep waiting for that to happen..
As for England's inability to influence Fifa, he is not of the view that the residue of the Havelange-Rous disagreements over the future of the game continue to make it difficult for England to have strong input there.He said: "I think Fifa would always want the major footballing countries to be represented, but, again, we haven't been forceful enough in seeking that representation. I think we have had suitable candidates, but some pretty good people have not been put forward."Robinson says that the other major European footballing countries, not least Germany and Italy, have always made sure that they were properly represented on the Uefa executive committee, which is the all-powerful one "We lose a very powerful voice by not being there," he said. He said: "England should always have someone on the executive committee of Uefa because we are one of the major countries Unlike other countries, we have not pushed hard enough. He speaks from a position of strength since his background work did much to place Liverpool among Europe's most successful and best organised clubs. Now he is complaining about the FA's present lack of direction.One of football's most distinguished and experienced administrators, Peter Robinson, the Liverpool executive vice-chairman, says that the lack of stringent English voices since the days of Rous is not so much the fault of inadequate personnel but the inability of the FA to campaign with real purpose. He followed a predictable line of succession, including the academic Professor Sir Harold Thompson, Sir Andrew Stephen and the often bumbling Sir Bert, who two years ago omitted to tell the FA that he was giving up his position on the Uefa executive so that no one else from England was nominated. Whatever opinion he had of his own capabilities outside of being Mr Big of Lancaster Gate, Wiseman was not that person.
A vice-presidency of Fifa was his ultimate aim.The problem was that he had been elected by men who had resisted every attempt to persuade them that the only way the FA could have a candidate for seriously high international office was to appoint a high- profile chief. Neither has their influence over Uefa been forceful, although David Dein, of Arsenal, is gaining strength there.When Wiseman took over the chairmanship of the FA from Sir Bert Millichip, whose work with Uefa was not all bad, he said that he wanted England to "impose ourselves on the leading footballing nations of the world", and he was not talking about 11 men kicking a ball. There is nothing new about football officials promising much for a few votes. At least Wiseman and the totally honest Graham Kelly were not up to handing round little sealed brown envelopes.While Scottish and Irish officials continued to have influence internationally, the English ones put up by the FA post-Rous for Fifa places also failed to recognise the winds of change or have the courage and statesmanship to regain influence over the Havelange- dominated international body.