This from The Guardian on Svengate.
ALAM WALKS OUT
Sven-Goran Eriksson was last night cleared of any wrongdoing in the crisis
gripping the Football Association and will continue, for the time being at least, as England coach.
gripping the Football Association and will continue, for the time being at least, as England coach.
After almost seven hours of talks at a central London hotel the FA board, led by
chairman Geoff Thompson, decided that Mr Eriksson had no case to answer
after an inquiry into how the organisation came to erroneously deny that the
Swede had an affair with secretary Faria Alam.
chairman Geoff Thompson, decided that Mr Eriksson had no case to answer
after an inquiry into how the organisation came to erroneously deny that the
Swede had an affair with secretary Faria Alam.
Mr Eriksson was said by an associate to be "very pleased and relieved" to have
been cleared. Ms Alam last night resigned, but the blow of losing her £30,000 a
year job was softened by the announcement of a £500,000 deal to sell her story.
been cleared. Ms Alam last night resigned, but the blow of losing her £30,000 a
year job was softened by the announcement of a £500,000 deal to sell her story.
The resignation of Colin Gibson, the FA's communications director who was
exposed as having offered details of Eriksson's private life to the News of the
World in exchange for her affair with Mark Palios, the chief executive, being kept secret, was also accepted. Mr Palios resigned on Sunday.
exposed as having offered details of Eriksson's private life to the News of the
World in exchange for her affair with Mark Palios, the chief executive, being kept secret, was also accepted. Mr Palios resigned on Sunday.
Having taken legal advice however, the board, a majority of whom are
dissatisfied with the coach's performance, was left with no choice but to clear
him. "Throughout the inquiry the board has been determined to address the
facts," the FA said. "At all times we have been mindful of the need to follow
standard procedures and employment law. In the case of Sven-Goran Eriksson
the board decided that on the basis of the report and on legal advice that there is no case to answer.
dissatisfied with the coach's performance, was left with no choice but to clear
him. "Throughout the inquiry the board has been determined to address the
facts," the FA said. "At all times we have been mindful of the need to follow
standard procedures and employment law. In the case of Sven-Goran Eriksson
the board decided that on the basis of the report and on legal advice that there is no case to answer.
"This entire episode has been regrettable for the reputation of football in this
country but the board remain determined to restore the highest standards."
country but the board remain determined to restore the highest standards."
The FA also announced a review of its management structure in the wake of the events of the last three weeks. Mr Thompson has survived despite his disastrous handling of the affair, which saw him clear Mr Palios five days before he accepted his resignation. But his influence will be severely curtailed by the
appointment of two board members, David Richards, chairman of the Premier
League, and Roger Burden, of the Gloucestershire FA, to "assist" him.
appointment of two board members, David Richards, chairman of the Premier
League, and Roger Burden, of the Gloucestershire FA, to "assist" him.