By Andrew Warshaw
March 21 – Greg Dyke, a former BBC director general known for his direct and passionate views, will be the new chairman of the English Football Association in succession to David Bernstein who steps down in July. His appointment is still subject to approval from the full FA council.
A recognisable voice on both radio and tv after a long and distinguished career in broadcasting, Dyke was approved unanimously by the FA Board. He has been chairman of lower-league Brentford, a position he will vacate to take over from Bernstein.
Bernstein, 69, was appointed in 2010 and is forced to relinquish the post when he reaches 70 under FA rules. Dyke, who is 65, spent four years at the BBC from 2000 to 2004 and is currently chairman of both the British Film Institute and Europe’s largest theatre group ATG.
Dyke was previously at commercial broadcaster ITV where he once famously said at a press conference after losing the much-prized highlight rights to Premier League football, his career in commercial television could well be marked as the man who lost football for ITV and put a rat on television to host the breakfast show (Roland Rat was a puppet presenter introduced to boost flagging ratings).
“Obviously as chairman of the FA it is imperative that I am neutral so that means giving up my current role as chairman of Brentford, which I will miss,” said Dyke, very much a contrasting figure to the more cautious Bernstein. “Football has always been a big part of my life whether playing 11-a-side on Sunday mornings or six-a-side on Thursday evenings. I was brought up in a household where my father was much more interested in whether or not you had won at football than whether you had passed your exams. In my case that was just as well.”
Dyke, who rarely shies away from publicity and is a charismatic character, steps into one of the one most high-profile roles in football administration, not only domestically but in terms of England’s dealings with FIFA, UEFA and all six football confederations. “I do see one of the most important tasks for the FA as, over time, to make thoughtful changes that will benefit the England team,” he said.
“The FA has made a great start by rebuilding Wembley and developing great facilities at (the) St George’s Park (academy) but it is essential it finds a way to ensure that more talented young English footballers are given their chance in the professional game at the highest level.
“At the grass roots seven million people play football every weekend, women’s football is booming and the ambition is for it to be the second-biggest team participation sport in England behind only the men’s game. We have the best known, most successful league in the world with the Premier League and the Football League is so much stronger than it was eight years or nine ago.
“Having said that I am a big supporter of financial fair play which, in both the Premier League and the Football League, will have a big impact and hopefully bring a degree of financial sanity to the professional game.”
Chairman of the nominations committee, Roger Devlin, said Dyke had “an outstanding understanding of football, strong relationships across the industry and Government, while retaining a great empathy for the game.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734908956labto1734908956ofdlr1734908956owedi1734908956sni@w1734908956ahsra1734908956w.wer1734908956dna1734908956