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Power threat to football chiefs Power threat to football chiefs
(about 2 hours later)
The Football Association of Wales is to be warned it must modernise and do more to develop the game in Wales or face losing significant public funding. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has been told it could lose responsibility for the game and public funding if it does not modernise.
A committee of Assembly Members meets on Thursday to approve its report into the future of football. A Welsh assembly review of football accuses the association of lacking strategy and criticises its organisation and governance.
BBC Radio Wales understands the draft recommendations say the FAW has not been effective enough in developing the sport. The report warns that "without necessary change, governing body status could be removed".
It adds that they will give the body a year to change the way it works. The FAW said it would not comment without first seeing the report.
BBC Wales' Welsh affairs editor Vaughan Roderick said the AMs' inquiry intended to be supportive of the sport in Wales but had quickly declined into a battle between the politicians and FAW officials, known as "the blazers". The highly critical document concludes that the overall picture of the game is "one of some confusion and lack of co-ordination, with no obvious plan or vision for Welsh football".
The unspoken threat... is that money... which basically pays for youth football in Wales, could be cut off. Vaughan Roderick, BBC Wales' Welsh affairs editor The document identifies three fundamental issues:
Speaking on Radio Wales, he said: "The FAW and English league clubs in Wales refused to appear to give evidence but a range of other bodies gave evidence, most of them critical of the FAW.
  • football in Wales needs a strategy and vision
    • "The FAW has always insisted that it doesn't receive any public money.
  • the FAW needs to "modernise and gain the confidence of the football community"
    • "The report is likely to say that is disingenuous because public money does go to a body called the FAW Trust, a body that's supposedly separate from the FAW, but which is responsible for the game in Wales.
  • the FAW needs to "take visible responsibility for the overall direction and development of football in Wales"
    • "The AMs are likely to say the FAW can't pretend that the development of the game in Wales is something that's nothing to do with the FAW. The whole organisation needs to become more professional, streamlined and focused Ann Jones AM
    "The unspoken threat, and it may be spoken when we see the details of the report, is that that money, to the FAW Trust, which basically pays for youth football in Wales, could be cut off." The report warns that "without necessary change, governing body status could be removed from the FAW".
    It continues: "This would have unfortunate consequences for the sport as a whole, including Wales' recognition by Uefa.
    "The committee does not wish to see that happen and believes that if the recommendations in this report are accepted by the FAW, the concerns of the Sports Council of Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government will have been met."
    The document also suggests that the assembly government and sports council should seriously consider how much money they put into football if the FAW does not immediately commit itself to acting on the report's recommendations.
    The sports council fears the consequences could be disastrous for Welsh football.
    'Reflection'
    Chief executive Huw Jones said: "There could be a loss of significant money at grassroots level and there could be a situation where the status of the national team is also affected.
    "What we need is a situation of reflection.
    "We certainly want to work with the FAW and to help them in any way that we can, just as we would any other governing body."
    The 'blazer brigade' who control the FAW Council need to stand aside and the whole organisation needs to become more professional, streamlined and focused Labour AM Ann Jones
    In the report's foreword, culture, welsh language and sport committee chair Rosemary Butler says she is dismayed that the association refused to take part in the review.
    She said: "It has... been something of a disappointment since one of the key stakeholders, the governing body of football, chose not to engage in our discussions."
    She concludes: "The committee believes that the most popular sport in Wales deserves the best from those who govern it."
    Another committee member, fellow Labour AM Ann Jones, said it was vital the FAW got its act together quickly.
    She said: "The 'blazer brigade' who control the FAW Council need to stand aside and the whole organisation needs to become more professional, streamlined and focused.
    The report called for a review of progress on its recommendations to be held within 12 months.
    The FAW has not yet seen the report and is not prepared to comment until it has.
    The issue will be covered in depth on Dragon's Eye on BBC 2W at 2030 GMT on Thursday, and on BBC One Wales at 2235 GMT.The issue will be covered in depth on Dragon's Eye on BBC 2W at 2030 GMT on Thursday, and on BBC One Wales at 2235 GMT.