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Dyke wants to rein in excess

Greg Dyke is looking to rein in financial excess in the English game © PA Photos

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The Football Association has announced that former BBC director general Greg Dyke will become the governing body's new chairman in the summer.

After receiving the unanimous approval of the FA board on Thursday, it was confirmed that Dyke, 65, would begin the role on Saturday July 13, subject to the FA Council's approval.

Dyke has experience in football, having worked as a director at Manchester United from 1997 to 1999, as well as acting as non-executive chairman at League One side Brentford since 2006. He is the current chairman of Dartmouth Golf & Country Club - a role he has held since 1996.

"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," he told TheFA.com. "I supported my local team, Brentford, as a kid where my elder brother was a junior, watched York City while at university and followed Manchester United whenever I could.

"I got involved in how the game was run when I was first involved in buying sports rights as chairman of ITV Sport in the late '80s and later at the BBC. I learnt a lot in the years when I was on the board of Manchester United and have seen the other side of the professional game at Brentford."

He added: "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. However, I shall be staying on until the end of the season.

"As I leave I would like to pay tribute to everyone at Brentford - the staff, the players and manager and particularly the fans. I hope their loyalty is rewarded with promotion. It deserves to be."

Dyke has indicated that one of his main aims as chairman will be to rein in financial excess in the English game, as well as boosting the fortunes of the national team.

"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," he said. "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.

"I do see one of the most important tasks for The FA is, over time, to make thoughtful changes which will benefit the England team. The FA have made a great start by rebuilding Wembley and developing great facilities at St. George's Park but it is essential that The FA finds a way to ensure that more talented young English footballers are given their chance in the professional game at the highest level."

The incumbent chairman, David Bernstein, has been forced to leave the position despite a successful tenure due to rules stipulating that FA chairmen cannot serve beyond their 70th birthday.

Bernstein said: "I would like to congratulate Greg Dyke on his nomination to succeed me in July as FA chairman. I wish him every success in this stimulating but demanding role. I will ensure that the handover is dealt with efficiently to help in maintaining the stability that has been achieved by The FA since 2010."

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