FA chairman: Some owners turn out 'not to be very good at it'

The former Football League chief has this lunchtime been quizzed by MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee regarding football governance and the departure of Sam Allardyce as England manager.

Politicians on the committee also took the opportunity to raise questions about the owners of Coventry City.

Clarke told MPs that lots of people who buy football clubs "turn out not to be very good at it".

While Blackpool FC wasn't specifically mentioned, his comments will make interesting reading for those fans taking part in the continued protest against the club's owners, the Oyston family.

Asked what he can do about the situation at Coventry, Mr Clarke said the FA and the Football League have limited powers and could not be responsible for the “aptitude” of owners.

He added: “We are limited by our legal abilities. There is a director's and officer's test. It doesn’t test for whether you have the ability to run a football club.

“We see lots of people who buy businesses or football clubs or who turn out not to be very good at it. We can’t stop people buying a business or a club who don’t actually have the aptitude to run that business or club.”