Analysis: Can Geoff Thompson help save England's World Cup bid?

By Andrew Warshaw

November 13 – Call it papering over the cracks, wielding the axe. Call it what you will. The one question that remains as baffling now as it did before, following the restructuring of England’s 2018 World Cup bid board, is this. Why on earth wasn’t Geoff Thompson (pictured) brought on board from the start?

As the only British member of FIFA’s inner circle following the recent untimely death of the hugely popular David Will, Thompson, the former chairman of the Football Association, is the one man who has the permanent ear of the 24 footballing bigwigs who will decide England’s fate in December 2010.

Thompson is not only a FIFA vice-president but also highly respected.

While he may not have the sabre-rattling charisma of some of his colleagues – as FA chairman he was constantly berated for being so low-key he was virtually invisible – his status on the international stage cannot be under-estimated.

The key to a successful bid is ticking every box in terms of what each member of the team has to offer.

Alongside Thompson you can put the the words quiet diplomacy and no-nonsense trustworthiness.

What has been described as a “streamlined board” will include not only Thompson but also Premier League Chairman Dave Richards, Football League chairman Brian Mawhinney, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe, former professional player and currently anti-race campaigner Paul Elliott and bid chief executive Andy Anson.

Triesman, whose leadership of the bid has come under considerable scrutiny, gave more than a veiled admission that the previous line-up wasn’t operating as a unit, a pre-requisite to win the vote.

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

“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.”

Triesman (pictured), who was allegedly uncomfortable about having Thompson on board as the man he replaced in the hot-seat at Soho Square, has clearly tried to draw a line under a series of destabilising public rows that have threatened to undermine England’s 2018 bid.

On the plus side, the team now comprises more genuine football administrators and fewer politicians.

Thompson, persuaded to join the team by Coe and Sir Keith Mills — architects of the winning bid for
London 2012 – is of far more value inside the team than outside.

But will the new-look outfit score enough points to win the title, metaphorically speaking?

The Government’s financial commitment remains a burning issue while insiders are still reeling from a series of PR disasters that have allowed the bids of England’s rivals to gather pace.

All of which makes the next few weeks so vital in terms of gaining ground.

England’s bid members will have a noticeable presence at the Soccerex convention in Johannesburg at the end of the month, followed by an all-important media presentation – alongside all the other bidders for 2018 and 2002 – on the morning of the World Cup draw in Cape Town on December 4.

Then the lobbying starts in earnest with exactly a year to go.

Africa, which has four votes, is bound to be uppermost in the minds of Triesman and his colleagues.

That is where there is strong support for England as a “thank you” for all the behind-the-scenes development programmes undertaken.

But even securing the African bloc will count for nothing unless support of the eight-strong European cartel within the FIFA Executive Committee can also be garnered.

And that, with three other European bidders competing against England, is a head-ache verging on a powerful migraine for Triesman, Anson and the rest of the team.

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734793107labto1734793107ofdlr1734793107owedi1734793107sni@w1734793107ahsra1734793107w.wer1734793107dna1734793107