By Duncan Mackay
November 12 – England has trimmed its bid team for the 2018 World Cup to replace some of the politicians and businessmen on the board with sporting figures but Lord Triesman (pictured) remains as chairman despite speculation he would stand down or be replaced.
Geoff Thompson, the former chairman of the Football Association and a FIFA vice-president and member of ruling Executive Committee, has joined the Board having been omitted originally.
But Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe and Gordon Brown’s adviser Richard Caborn have been cut.
He will work alongside Premier League chairman Dave Richards, Football League chairman Brian Mawhinney, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe, former Chelsea and Celtic defender Paul Elliott and Andy Anson, the chief executive of the bid.
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.
“England would stage a truly memorable World Cup.
“We are a football mad country, with some of the world’s best leagues, stadiums and above all fans.
“We have a great infrastructure and a multi-cultural society that would provide a home-from-home welcome to any team and their fans.
“The unanimous view of the board is to make sure this message continues to be heard loud and clear around the world.
“This is the most competitive World Cup bid in history and while the England 2018 bid is well placed to succeed, it will only do so if football, and all those involved in the bid, remain supportive of the campaign and the bid team.
“Today we have received the clearest indication that The Premier League and the Football League are united with us.”
Triesman will be hoping that the restructuring can help get the bid back on track following a difficult period during which his own leadership ability had come under increasingly under the spotlight.
“The new Board will provide focused leadership to the team and will work closely together to maximise England’s message to the world.
“The new Board is totally united in its commitment and I am looking forward immensely to working with my colleagues within this new set up.“
Thompson said: “The World Cup bid is a tremendous opportunity for English football and the nation as a whole to showcase its facilities, its hospitality and its overall ability to stage the greatest tournament in the world.
“I am delighted to be involved on the new board.”
An advisory group, led by former Birmingham City chief executive Karren Brady, and made up of all remaining original board members, including Manchester United chief executive David Gill and former London 2012 chief executive Sir Keith Mills, will advise the bid and ensure the members remain actively involved in the bid’s international campaign.
Coe said: “I am particularly pleased Geoff Thompson has joined the board with his wealth of international experience.
“The new board will play a pro-active role in leading the bid with the former board members, such as Keith Mills and Martin Sorrell, in key campaigning roles.
“This restructure will put us in a stronger position to drive the campaign forward both domestically and internationally over the next 13 months.”
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