FA Chairman To Retire Next Year
Football Association chairman David Bernstein has been unsuccessful in his attempt to extend his tenure beyond his 70th birthday next year, after the FA Council voted by 45 votes to 40 to reject a proposal to allow him to extend his contract to the end of the 2014 World Cup.
The proposal was an attempt to waive a rule requiring directors to stand down when they turn 70-years of age.
Bernstein – who replaced Lord Triesman in December 2010 – and the FA board had been hopeful that he could prolong his stewardship beyond next spring, but were unable to get the FA Council to amend its statutes.
The FA chairman said: ‘I respect the decision and I remain committed to fulfilling my responsibilities and to building on what we have achieved over the past two years. Next year is a significant one in the FA’s history, and I look forward to leading the organisation in the months ahead.’
An FA statement read: ‘The board had asked the chairman to continue beyond next May until summer 2014, and it subsequently put forward the proposal to today’s FA council meeting.’
‘Despite strong support for the chairman’s ongoing leadership, in a close vote, the council voted against the amendment on the basis that it would be inappropriate to change known and agreed rules on an individual basis.’
