Soccer: Bates role on FA board under threat

Ken Bates' position as one of the 12 most important men in the Football Association is under threat following his bitter blast at Adam Crozier.

Chelsea chairman Bates quit as vice-chairman of Wembley National Stadium Limited on Thursday.

And in his resignation letter to Crozier, Bates was fiercely critical of the FA's chief executive.

Bates is also one of the 12 members of the all-powerful FA board, which is made up of five appointees from the professional game, five from the national or amateur game, chairman Geoff Thompson and last, but by no means least, Crozier.

The prospect of Crozier and Bates working together on the same board is unimaginable - Bates called Crozier "a spin doctor who has treated me shamefully".

Other senior figures within the FA believe Bates' position on the board is now untenable. The only obstacle is that the FA may struggle to get rid of him.

As Bates has been nominated by fellow Premier League chairmen - among whom he still has many supporters - to be on the FA board, they are the only people who can decide to replace him.

The situation is sure to be on the agenda at the next board meeting on Thursday next week. Bates will not be there, as he is on holiday on a Caribbean cruise.

If, on his return, Bates digs his heels in and refuses to stand down from the board, the FA will have a serious problem to deal with.