Infighting is undermining our World Cup bid, admits Brady
KARREN BRADY last night revealed the acrimony surrounding England’s 2018 World Cup campaign, insisting the country’s hopes of staging the event is being undermined by “bickering and infighting” at board level.
The former Birmingham City director was one of six board members to stand down a fortnight ago, while influential Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards followed suit on Tuesday.
Brady, 40, is now the leader of an advisory panel to the World Cup bid committee, but revealed her concerns that the internal politics at board level could hinder England’s chances.
“There’s been bickering, infighting and disruption,” she admitted.
“If everybody doesn’t pull together for the same aim, things won’t be achieved. We’ve got an excellent chance and an excellent technical bid.
“We’ve got some wonderful stadia in this country to host the most amazing World Cup.
“But internal politics can’t be seen to be getting in the way of that.”
Asked if the bid had been a shambles, Brady added: “From the outside looking in, that’s probably fair comment.”
Brady joined the likes of Manchester United chief David Gill, Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe and Sir Keith Mills in standing down from the board on 12 November as part of a streamlining process, which coincided with former FA chairman Geoff Thompson joining the board.
Richards’ departure was another embarrassment for bid boss Lord Triesman ahead of his high-profile visit to South Africa, but Brady was quick to deny claims that his resignation was done in the hope of ousting Triesman.
“I know Dave well enough to know that if that was his aim, he would have come out and said it,” she added. “Sitting on 2018 is an extremely time-consuming role. Now the committee has been streamlined they want people to be more involved, not less.”