EVESHAM’S MP Nigel Huddleston has urged the Football Association’s (FA) chairman to improve self-governance.
As his role on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, the Mid Worcestershire MP attended a hearing on the governance of football with Greg Clarke, FA Chairman and Robert Sullivan, FA Director of Strategy on Monday (October 17).
The hearing was called to discuss the issues surrounding the appointment and departure of former England manager Sam Allardyce, who recently stood down from his role after just one game and 67 days in charge, following accusations of financial impropriety.
The committee is currently carrying out an inquiry into the governance of football due to the continuing major failings in the current UK system, as well as internationally.
Mr Huddleston asked Mr Clarke whether the FA was fit for purpose in light of the Sam Allardyce affair and slammed the £3million salary offered to an England manager as ‘beyond comprehension for most of my constituents’.
He also pointed out that the select committee had made multiple recommendations about governance to the FA several years ago, but that these were ‘completely and utterly ignored by the FA’.
In response, Mr Clarke said: “We’re not claiming to be perfect, but we’re claiming to do the job reasonably well. I take my responsibilities very seriously and I’m willing to risk my job to succeed.
“But every now and again an issue like this comes along and destroys all the good work we do.
“Many of the top premier league managers are earning six to ten million pounds a year and managers in the championship earn a third of that.
“Whoever takes the England job will take a salary cut. The question is how big a pay cut we can negotiate.”
