Source: Team_Talk
Whelan: Triesman saga has damaged bid
Dave Whelan believes Lord Triesman's alleged comments about England's rival bidders for the World Cup have done "an enormous amount of damage".[LNB] And the Wigan chairman believes the choice of the next Football Association chief is "crucial", believing Rick Parry to be "the perfect candidate".[LNB]Triesman stepped down as chairman of the FA and England's 2018 bid following allegations he accused the Spanish and Russian football federations of bribery.[LNB]The FA have yet to choose his replacement and Whelan insists the right candidate must be chosen - and soon.[LNB]He said: "I think Lord Triesman has been let down very, very badly but the damage is done. I think it's done an enormous amount of damage.[LNB]"Now the FA have got to appoint a new chairman as quickly as possible and when we appoint a new chairman we have to be very, very careful who we appoint because it will be crucial if we're going to get the World Cup.[LNB]"I know ex-politicians come into the reckoning but you've got to think about getting someone familiar who is into football big style, someone like Rick Parry.[LNB]"He was at Liverpool and was a brilliant chief executive. He's gone out of the game because I don't think he got in with the two owners at Liverpool - but he's a perfect candidate to take it on and lead them (the FA) forward.[LNB]"I'd much rather someone who's been at the sharp end of football. (Manchester United's) David Gill is a brilliant chief executive too. That type of man is the perfect candidate to lead the FA.[LNB]"I still hope and believe it (the World Cup) will come to us because we are the natural choice.[LNB]"I wouldn't give up hope on that - we can go forward and get it with a quality FA chairman."[LNB]Whelan believes currently the Premier League are best equipped to lead the game in this country.[LNB]He added on BBC Radio Five Live: "Wembley is the home of football in England. We've got to get it run properly and I think only the Premier League can run it properly.[LNB]"The FA are in debt to the tune of three-quarters of a billion pounds. Now we've got concerts and all kinds of things going on there to pay the interest charges on it.[LNB]"I don't mind other games at Wembley - rugby league has been there for years - but we shouldn't have pop concerts at the home of football.[LNB]"It needs a tough man in there, someone with the qualities to get hold of Wembley and shake it up.[LNB]"The FA have got to stop amateur people having too much say on how the professional side of the game is run.[LNB]"I'd like the Premier League to consider taking the FA stadium over and running the England team."
