23 Mar 2010Watmore quits as FA chief executive

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

Ian Watmore has resigned as chief executive of the FA after just nine months in the post.

A statement from FA chairman Lord Triesman confirmed that Watmore had tendered his resignation on Friday (March 19th) and was asked to reconsider over the weekend.

The 51-year-old did not change his mind and his departure was confirmed by the FA last night.

Although English football's governing body gave no official explanation for the decision, newspaper reports have indicated that Watmore became frustrated with the limitations of the role and the influence exerted by the English Premier League.

A source commented: "The job wasn't what he thought it was going to be.

"He took a position as chief executive which, ultimately, he found wasn't chief and wasn't executive."

The Arsenal supporter was appointed as Brian Barwick's successor in February 2009, but did not start work until last summer.

His resignation means the FA has now lost four chief executives in the space of eight years.

Written by Tom Jenkins

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