24 Dec 2009Next four years are critical, says FA chief Watmore

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

FA chief executive Ian Watmore has revealed that he has a four-year plan to complete a full overhaul of the organisation's finances.

Speaking to the Guardian, he said that the period between next year's FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the 2014 tournament in Brazil will be "critical" for the FA's commercial strategy.

Since succeeding Brian Barwick as chief executive this summer, Watmore has been confronted by a number of major challenges, including the loss of Setanta's £150 million TV rights deal.

However, the Arsenal supporter told the newspaper that the FA's bargaining position for future TV contracts should be strengthened by the recent upturn in fortunes of the national side.

"To be negotiating England at a time when we're doing so much better, we've got the Fabio factor and so on, is an offset," he commented.

Watmore also confirmed that the prospect of a sponsorship deal for Wembley is being investigated, but insisted that the naming rights to the stadium will not be put on the market.

"Wembley will remain Wembley, the national stadium," he said.

Written by Terry Mitchell

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