FA governance set to be discussed in parliament

The debate, set to take place at 2.15pm on Thursday, has been secured by Damian Collins MP, the chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, which has published two reports in recent years calling for an overhaul of the FA's board and council.

A motion of no confidence is to be debated after five former FA executives said the governing body had failed to "self-reform".

The debate may be of significant interest to Blackpool fans, who are hoping the football authorities will take a tougher stance against club owners.

FA chairman Greg Clarke "strongly disputes" the motion, but accepts FA governance must change.

He said: "We are not sitting idly by. The FA has a set of proposals to improve our governance which we will ratify and then take to the minister of sport in order to get her approval. Change won't be easy, but I am confident it will happen - and it will be substantial.

"Delivering real change is my responsibility and I firmly believe this is critical for the future of the game.

"If the Government is not supportive of the changes when they are presented in the coming months, I will take personal responsibility for that. I will have failed. I will be accountable for that failure and would in due course step down from my role."

The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will look at whether reform is impossible within the FA's structure, and new laws may be proposed.