Bernstein promises "sensible, progressive reform" of the FA

By Andrew Warshaw

January 25 – David Bernstein (pictured) was formally voted in as the new chairman of the Football Association today after the full FA Council rubber-stamped the appointment of the former Wembley stadium boss.

The choice of the 67-year-old former Manchester City chairman to replace acting FA chairman Roger Burden took most experts by surprise, but Bernstein says he is determined to put the FA back on an even keel following a spate of setbacks.

“By bringing stability to the top of our organisation, I hope to create an environment within which all the positive work that we do is better understood and appreciated,” Bernstein told the Council.

Burden had been regarded as a shoo-in once he had taken over from Lord Triesman who was forced to quit following a newspaper sting.

But Burden himself left the post following England’s humiliating first round exit in the vote for the 2018 World Cup in protest at FIFA’s handling of the entire process.

Bernstein has a tough challenge on his hands restoring the reputation of English football both domestically and, especially, on the world stage in its relationships with FIFA and UEFA.

He told the FA Council, made up of both professional and grass-roots members, that he would be formulating proposals for “sensible, progressive reform” so that the FA governs the game properly.

“I also want to build stronger and more effective relationships with the various international football bodies,” Bernstein said, tellingly.

“There are many lessons to be learned from the events of last year.”

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