Barwick Quits As FA Chief Executive

Brian Barwick has resigned from his post as chief executive of The Football Association and will leave at the end of the year.

The decision was taken after weeks of discussion between FA independent chairman Lord Triesman and Barwick over his role within English football’s ruling body.
 
Triesman is the FA’s first independent chairman and has been responsible for looking at the way it is structured.

Barwick’s departure is thought to have stemmed from a fundamental difference of opinion with Lord Triesman over the future running of the governing body and his departure is likely to lead to a full scale overhaul of the management structure at The FA.

Barwick held the top sports job at both BBC and ITV before moving to The FA in November 2004 after a sex scandal forced out his predecessor, Mark Palios. Barwick is the fourth chief executive the FA has lost in less than 10 years.

Barwick’s reign will be remembered mainly for the criticism leveled at him over the appointment of Steve McLaren as Sven Goran Eriksson’s successor as England manager. The interview process was played out in the media after Barwick was spotted flying in to Portugal to interview Luiz Felipe Scolari – now manager of Chelsea.

However, the departing chief executive enjoyed some successes, notably approving the green light for the National Football Centre at Burton; the opening of the new Wembley Stadium and the negotiation of a significant increase in the new TV rights contract.
 
‘I have always endeavoured to do my job with passion, decency and integrity, and I believe I am leaving a strong legacy for the future,’ said Barwick reflecting on his time as chief executive.