The FA’s root and branch review should begin with an analysis of who runs football in this country. Once they have realised that the men at the top are incapable, and relieved Brian Barwick of his position, a new chief executive needs to be appointed.

Football needs someone who can transform a failing organisation into a successful system fit for purpose. Someone who can motivate a party of players who have consistently underachieved. Someone who can make the nation proud of their team and someone who can make us winners on the world stage. Football needs Tony Blair.

In 1994, Blair was appointed leader of a party who had failed for 17 years, nearly as many as the England football team. Labour were unelectable and blighted by internal squabbling. Blair transformed this rabble into a smoothly run machine, loved by the public and in 1997 they stormed to a general election victory. They proceeded to dominate the Westminster division for a decade, defeating all challengers.

‘... he has enormous skill when it comes to getting opposing factions to work together. He would, therefore, have little trouble in solving the Steven Gerrard-Frank Lampard conundrum.’


Education, education, education, cried Blair and that’s certainly what our young players need. Picture the scene five years from now: “We, the FA, as a party, have increased investment in our national academies at unprecedented levels. We are now reaping the rewards with more pupils graduating with the highest grades.”

Furthermore, with Blair currently presiding over Middle East negotiations, in his position as peace envoy, he has enormous skill when it comes to getting opposing factions to work together. He would, therefore, have little trouble in solving the Steven Gerrard-Frank Lampard conundrum. That leaky defence of ours would be transformed as well: “Tough on conceding goals, tough on the causes of conceding goals.”

England’s World Cup qualifying group contains three eastern European countries, a particular expertise of Blair following a successful campaign previously in the Balkans, and the similarities do not end there. The Belarus manager, Yuri Puntus, was the leader of the Iraq national team when Saddam Hussein was still at large. Blair put paid to him and could do the same to Puntus.

With Blair in charge at Soho Square, who better to manage the team than his favourite chancellor, Gordon Brown. The problem with Steve McClaren was that he was too friendly with the players. JT this, StevieG that and Becks the other. What we need is the clunking fist of the current Prime Minister – 10 years of footballing stability thanks to prudent decisions and every player doing their utmost. The FA need to make sweeping changes from the grass roots upwards and Brown clearly believes this saying: “For me there is a mission for this country moving forward – there are big long-term decisions we've got to take as a nation.”

Another part of the problem faced by the incumbent of Soho Square is dealing with the media. Relations between the tabloids and the England manager are often stormy but Blair and Brown know the perfect man to change that – the King of Spin. No, not Ashley Giles, but Alistair Campbell. Anyone who can make John Prescott appeal to the public would have no problem deflecting press criticism.

Many think McClaren and the England players didn’t take the European qualifiers seriously and that they no longer care about playing for the country. Blair, however, wouldn’t make the same mistake. He once said: “If there is one thing Britain should learn from the last 50 years, it is this: Europe can only get more important for us.”

Blair and Brown have done the second most difficult job in the country, now it’s time for them to step up to the dispatch box and take on the most difficult ... making England a great football nation again.