Jowell: FA must modernise or die

British culture secretary Tessa Jowell believes the Football Association must “modernise or die” and has urged it to follow the recommendations of the Burns Report.

Lord Burns’ proposed reforms of the FA, which include a reduction in size of the main board and of the FA council’s influence, have met with some resistance from the latter and the Football League, but Jowell insists there is a need for modification.

Jowell told The Guardian: “If I was advising the FA, an independent governing body, I would say go for it, modernise or die.

“It is absolutely essential for the credibility of football that the Burns recommendations are taken seriously, that they are acted on and that they are implemented.

“The moment for the modernisation of the FA is now and it will be nothing short of a tragedy if the Burns review was kicked into the long grass.”

The FA council is set to meet tomorrow with Burns to discuss his report for the 90-strong body that has responsibility for structural reform.

Jowell urged the FA to acknowledge the importance of being seen to reform in order to win public confidence.

“It is the fans that make football in this country and the fans are looking for football to be run in a way that is properly accountable and gives them value for the money they spend supporting their team, and for investment in grassroots football.”