FA say TerryÂ´s England captaincy in CapelloÂ´s hands

February 2, 2010

England manager Fabio Capello alone will make a decision on John Terry’s future as England captain, the Football Association (FA) said on Monday.

The 29-year-old Chelsea defender’s position has been called into question following reports the married father of twins had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former team-mate Wayne Bridge.

There are now concerns the issue could have a damaging effect on England’s bid to win the World Cup in South Africa later this year but the FA were adamant they would leave the matter to Capello.

“Fabio Capello alone will make the decision about John Terry’s position,” said an FA spokesman.

“Fabio is fully up to speed with developments regarding John Terry.

“He spoke with our chairman Lord (David) Triesman and chief executive Ian Watmore today (Monday), who both backed him to make the best decision for England on footballing grounds.

“Fabio is dealing with the matter in his own way using his extensive experience as a football manager.”

Capello is due to return to England later this week and will travel to Warsaw for the Euro 2012 qualifying competition draw this weekend.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: chief executive, david triesman, england captain, euro 2012, fabio capello, football association, football manager, former team, john terry, South Africa, spokesman, team mate, twins, warsaw, World Cup

Faltering England slim down 2018 bid team

November 13, 2009

England have responded to criticism of their bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals by announcing a reduced management team.

Bid chiefs held a crisis meeting Thursday and announced a new executive board which included Geoff Thompson, a vice-president of world football governing body FIFA, who was omitted from the original line-up.

After starting the bidding process as favourites ahead of Russia, Australia and the joint-venture by Spain and Portugal, England’s 2018 campaign has come under fire in recent weeks.

The bid has been severely criticised by Jack Warner, one of FIFA’s executive committee members, and Football Association chairman Lord David Triesman, also England’s 2018 chairman, has come under pressure over his inability to devote more than two days a week to his role.

Triesman will now head up a streamlined board featuring Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards, Football League chairman Lord Brian Mawhinney, Lord Sebastian Coe, the London 2012 Olympic Games chief, former player Paul Elliott and chief executive Andy Anson.

Original board members such as Britain’s sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe will join an advisory group headed by Karren Brady, the former Birmingham City chief executive.

Triesman said: “We’ve got to a point where the England 2018 campaign requires focus, determination and where everybody involved has a specific purpose to help us win the bid.

“In our view, these changes reflect a positive development and send a loud message of an absolute determination to bring the World Cup tournament to England.”

According to a report in Wednesday’s edition of The Times newspaper, Warner’s influence is likely to result in “at least another two votes and probably more like another three or four votes” being lost.

England’s bid is also said to be suffering from a lack of financial investment, with the Government’s pledge of five million pounds (5.5 million euros) in direct funding having been cut to a conditional loan of 2.5 million pounds (2.7 million euros).

FIFA are expected to announce their decision on the 2018 hosts in December next year.

England have hosted the World Cup just once, in 1966, when they won the tournament for the only time in their history with a team captained by the late Bobby Moore defeating the then West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in a final at London’s Wembley Stadium.

LONDON (AFP)

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England keep 2022 World Cup bid option open

March 16, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – England’s Football Association will bid to stage the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, it was announced on Monday.

Countries were asked by world football governing body FIFA to bid for one of the two tournaments or submit proposals to stage both events.

The FA handed in their plans at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters on Monday.

Afterwards, England bid and FA chairman Lord David Triesman, issued a statement, saying: "Today marks another step forward on our journey to bring the FIFA World Cup to England and our team are focused on delivering the best bid possible to FIFA.

"By declaring our interest for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments we are maximising our chances of winning the right to host the world’s greatest sporting occasion."

England have staged the World Cup just once in their history, in 1966. That was also the only time they have won the competition defeating the then West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Written by: AFP

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Civil servant Watmore gets English FA post

February 18, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Ian Watmore, a senior civil servant in the British government, was announced Wednesday as the new chief executive of England’s Football Association.

Watmore, currently the permanent secretary of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills where FA chairman Lord David Triesman was once a minister, will take up his role in June.

"I am delighted to be joining The Football Association as chief executive," said Watmore. It is a great challenge and one I am really looking forward to.

"With Lord Triesman and the (FA) Board, Fabio Capello and the FA’s staff, I want to ensure we are achieving success on and off the pitch across all levels of the game."

Former Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman was also reported to be in contention for the post.

But it is the 50-year-old Watmore who will replace Brian Barwick, who stepped down at the end of last year.

Barwick was in charge when Italian Fabio Capello, who has enjoyed a successful start to his time as England manager as he bids to take the team to the 2010, World Cup finals in South Africa, was appointed.

But the former television sports producer also presided over the dismal failure of then England manager Steve McClaren’s dismal failure to qualify for Euro 2008 and the bungled attempt to appoint Luiz Felipe Scolari, recently sacked by Chelsea, as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s successor.

However, he did conclude a lucrative television deal with ITV and satellite station Setanta which left the FA’s finances in good shape.

Delivery of the long awaited National Football Centre in Burton, central England will be one of the tasks facing Watmore, who before entering government worked in the IT industry.

Watmore’s appointment will raise concerns about whether there are too many figures with a Whitehall background at the FA but Triesman said: "We had a very strong shortlist of candidates, but in Ian we have the right person to lead the organisation as chief executive officer.

"The FA is committed to maximising participation across all levels of football in this country, helping the England teams and our clubs achieve success on the pitch, while also being trusted to govern the game."

Written by: AFP