December 14 – Stoke City have become the first Premier League club to publicly declare that they are prepared to financially back England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup with a donation of £250,000.
Up until now the Premier League, the richest competition of its kind in the world, have offered England’s campaign assistance only in kind, including donating advertising space at grounds around the country, but have stopped short of actually giving cash, which the bid desperately needs because of lack of help from the Government.
That has meant that England have been struggling to compete against rivals like Australia and Russia, who have both launched extensive marketing campaigns bankrolled by money they have received from their Governments.
If the other 19 clubs in the the Premiership followed the example of Stoke City, one of the League’s poorer clubs, then that would raise £5 million – the amount that England 2018 were asking for from the Government.
The bid’s relationship with the Premier League has been hampered by the poor relations between Lord Triesman, the chairman of England, and Richard Scudamore, the chief executive of the Premier League.
But after a series of damaging headlines, following the resignation of Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards from the England 2018 Board, both sides have decided to try to work together more closely.
Peter Coates, the owner of Stoke City who sits on the Football Association International Committee, is behind the initiative of the clubs financially supporting the bid.
He said: ”It is very important for football in this country that we host the 2018 World Cup and the Premier League should do all they can to help.
“I would be happy to contribute with monetary assistance and I’m sure other clubs would do the same.”
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