Lineker insists he is not England 2018’s Lord Coe

By Duncan Mackay

November 28 – Gary Lineker (pictured), the man many are trying to persuade to take over from Lord Triesman as the leader of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, tonight insisted that his commitments with the BBC would rule him out from playing a more prominent role.

Writing in his weekly column in the Mail of Sunday, which is due to be published tomorrow, he said: ”It hasn’t escaped my notice that I have been put forward in several quarters as a potential figurehead for England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

“As flattering as that may be, I don’t want anyone to be misled.

“Even if asked – and I haven’t been – I would not be able to play a prominent role in the bid because of my full-time commitments for the BBC.

“Having little interest or experience in being a political animal, I think I’d be better off assisting where I can, rather than being the front man for such a huge campaign.

“I have already been named as one of many ambassadors for the 2018 bid and have helped to make a promotional video.

“I am proud to do that.

“But while I am happy to play a supporting role, I am not the Lord Coe some people are looking for.”

Former Sports Minister Richard Caborn had said earlier this week that he believed Lineker, who scored 48 goals in 80 appearances for England, could have the same galvanising effect on the World Cup campaign as Sebastian Coe did when he took over as the head of London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

Caborn said: ”He can be football’s Seb Coe in this bid.”

But Lineker, whose career saw him play for Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur, insisted that he did not possess the political skills that Coe (pictured) did and a conflict of interests in his role with the BBC would make it difficult for him.

He wrote: ”He [Coe] showed us in helping London win the 2012 Olympics that you need someone full-time campaigning for 2018.

“That would not be possible for me.

“I have a job at the BBC that I wouldn’t leave and doing the two things in tandem would be impossible because of a conflict of interest.

“How could I ask a bid leader a difficult question as a broadcaster if I’m going to be sitting with him at a Board meeting or glad-handing an ambassador or FIFA delegate the next day?

“The other reason for making it clear I do not want a top job with the bid team is that I know my limitations and could not offer the same things as Lord Coe did with London.

“I am a different animal to him.

“He did an amazing job with the Olympics, travelling thousands of miles, shaking millions of hands and having strong political antennae – he was a Conservative Party MP – to win votes and influence people.

“I know what I am and what I am not. I am a broadcaster and journalist, not a political person.”

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734847751labto1734847751ofdlr1734847751owedi1734847751sni@y1734847751akcam1734847751.nacn1734847751ud1734847751.

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