English FA Chief To Retire By End Of Season
Greg Dyke has announced that he will step down as chairman of the Football Association in the summer after deciding not to seek re-election at the end of his four-year term.
Dyke had initially said he would stand for a further year in office but opposition to proposed reforms from some FA councilors and a minority of board members has made him change his mind.
The decision is an implicit admission that the Council would be unlikely to endorse another term at a time when he is trying to reform it.
Advertisement
The former BBC director general, believes football is in a better place financially, administratively and from a coaching standpoint than when he took over in 2013.
However, he said it would be a “fight” to convince the FA Council to see through other “much-needed, significant reform”.
In a statement, the 68-year old said: “I had already decided that if no reform was possible I was going to leave anyway this summer, a position I had shared with a number of colleagues.
“What now appears to be the case is that there is a majority position on the board for much needed significant reform. I fully support this but I recognise it is going to be a fight to get through the FA Council.
Advertisement
“What I now see is that even if we get the reform through (which will be a difficult and divisive process although essential), I am probably not the best person to pick up the pieces following the inevitable discord.’
He also set England a target of winning the World Cup by 2022.
“However, whichever way the vote goes on reform, I think the FA will need more of a conciliatory figure than me to build on what has been achieved,” Dyke added in his statement.
He will now leave the governing body in the summer.
FA chief executive Ian Watmore, who is known to want to lead English football, is keen on replacing Dyke as chairman.
