Ferdinand & Hodgson Join FA Commission
Former England captain and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has joined national team boss Roy Hodgson as the latest names on the Football Association commission, set up to investigate and improve the state of the game in the country.
Set up by the new FA chairman, Greg Dyke, the commission will consider how to increase the number of England-qualified players appearing for the country’s top clubs.
Ferdinand and Hodgson join Dyke, FA vice-chairman Roger Burden, ex-England boss Glenn Hoddle, former England defender Danny Mills, League Managers’ Association chairman Howard Wilkinson, Professional Footballers’ Association chairman Ritchie Humphreys, Football League chairman Greg Clarke, and Crewe director of football Dario Gradi on the panel.
The appointments follow criticism of the FA over its first eight members of the panel, deemed ‘all-white, all-male’ by Heather Rabbats, the organisation’s only female board member.
However, Dyke denied that Ferdinand’s appointment had anything to do with the recent criticism: ‘We have been speaking to Rio and Manchester United for some time about him joining the group – before we named the other members of the commission.’
‘However, as he is a current Manchester United player we needed to be sure that Rio had the necessary time to fully participate on the commission and not impact on his day job. It has been agreed he does.’
‘As a current player with forthright views and opinions on the game, we can look forward to Rio providing significant insight and experience.’
‘Rio’s vast experience as a player developed through West Ham’s successful youth system, winning Premier League and European titles with Manchester United and representing England at World Cups means he has a huge amount to offer to the debate.’
Meanwhile, the appointment of England manager Hodgson had been delayed until after the end of the World Cup qualifiers, which saw England through as Group winners following the required victories of Montenegro and Poland at Wembley earlier this month.
Dyke added: ‘It is important Roy can offer his views as the current manager of the national team and share the knowledge he has gained when working for many years in a number of countries. I wanted the international fixtures to be completed before announcing this to avoid any distractions for Roy at such an important time.’
‘The commission will now start to gather evidence and information and canvass opinions from numerous people in football and sport.’
‘It is important we do not lose sight of the commission’s main purpose. That is – finding a way of delivering long-term success for the England men’s senior team, particularly by identifying ways to increase the number of players available to the national team playing regularly at the highest level of English football or abroad.’
