By Zippy
August 4 2004

WRU boss David Moffett has emerged as one of the favourites to succeed Mark Palios and return order to the English FA, for the story and reaction read on.

Story Taken From The Western Mail 4/8/04

WELSH rugby bosses last night issued a stern "hands off David Moffett" warning to the beleaguered Football Association.

The message comes as WRU bigwigs fear a fresh move from the FA for Moffett to take over at Soho Square, following the controversial resignation of Mark Palios over the Svengate affair.

FA power-brokers are big admirers of former Sport England boss Moffett and actually offered him the job ahead of Palios when Adam Crozier quit the post in October 2002.

And Welsh bookmaker Jack Brown last night installed the WRU chief as joint second favourite to land the England post.

Moffett turned down the FA's first approach - and a £100,000 hike in his salary - at the time, insisting he had just started his job with Welsh rugby and wanted to see through the massive change he was bringing to our national game.

But Moffett may find himself head-hunted again as the English FA look for a strong leader to cope with the massive fall-out from Svengate.

Among the many admirers of Moffett's brilliance as a top sports administrator is Sir Trevor Brooking, technical director of the FA.

Brooking and Moffett worked side by side with Sport England, before the Australian left to take up his role with Wales.

WRU chairman David Pickering knows the FA may come knocking on Moffett's door. again, admitting it would be silly to think otherwise.

"David is an absolutely outstanding sports administrator," said Pickering.

"Obviously, it's a marketplace out there and you can't stop that. It's silly to think that these things don't happen.

"I am fully aware of the previous interest from the FA and you never know what's going to happen."

 

Zippy Reaction

Great news, I hope he takes up this high profile appointment which can only further his career.

I hear he already has plans for a 10 team Premier league featuring a Newcastle/Sunderland merged team other possibilities include Everton/Liverpool, Arsenal/Spurs and many more!!!!!

He has suceeded in stopping the WRU from getting into further debt but take a look at the state of the game in Wales.

F.A. I hope you appoint him for selfish reasons, but BEWARE David "Darth" Moffet.