FA seeks World Cup bid executive

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The Football Association (FA) has advertised for a top executive team in its bid to secure the rights to host the 2018 football World Cup in England.

The successful candidate for the chief executive role must have a track record in major organisations, says the FA.

A chief operating officer and media and technical directors are needed too.

A new company is to be set up with the mission of wining a majority vote from the Fifa executive committee which will decide where the event is hosted.

Recruitment firm Odgers Ray and Berndtson is tasked with finding the people to fill the top roles.

'Lasting legacy'

The chief executive will be responsible for the development, delivery and presentation of the bid.

A key element of the role will also be to establish "a lasting legacy for football in England and countries of the developing world".

The FA is employing a similar bid process to the one that achieved success with the London 2012 Olympics, with the setting up of a 100%-owned subsidiary company within the FA.

The World Cup football tournament was last held in England in 1966

This will be governed by an executive board made up of a bid chairman, the bid chief executive, the FA chairman Lord Triesman and two deputy chairmen.

England last hosted the World Cup in 1966 when the host nation beat West Germany 4-2 in the final.

Bidding to host the 2018 World Cup will close in 2009, and it is thought Fifa will make its decision before its congress meeting in summer 2011.

As well as England, other countries which have expressed an interest include Australia, Qatar, Russia, and Belgium and the Netherlands have announced a joint bid.

Spain, Canada, and the US are also thought to be considering their options.

The FA revealed in April that the cost of bidding for the 2018 World Cup will be £15m.

Networking necessary

The successful incumbent must establish a "working relationship" with the FIFA administration and the individual members of the FIFA executive committee.

The 25-members of the committee hold the key to whether England wins the right to host the event, with a majority of 13 needed for a successful bid.

Among the executive committee members are Fifa president Sepp Blatter, ex-French football star and Uefa chief Michelle Platini, and Trinidad & Tobago's Jack Warner - who warned last year that he could prevent the event coming to England.

However earlier this year Mr Warner said he was keen on England hosting the World Cup after all.

In addition to working with Fifa, the chief executive must also liaise closely with the intercontinental football confederations, different departments of the FA, professional football bodies, and the UK government and its agencies.