Burnham - Football in Wales needs authority, confidence and transparency to face the future

2.03.00pm GMT Thu 25th Jan 2007

Eleanor Burnham AM today discussing the Assembly Sport committee's draft report 'Football in Wales', today advocated that the FAW accept key responsibility for the dire state of the professional development of football and a review of the FAW's progress in 12 months time or face questions over the future of public investment in Welsh football.

Ms Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Sport and a key member of the Assembly Sport committee, voiced her concern that football in Wales under the governance of the FAW lacked confidence, authority and transparency in its plan for funding and directing the professional and grass roots development of Wales' most popular sport.

Ms Burnham said: "Football in Wales is frankly in a dire situation. This is the impression I, as a member of the Assembly government's Sport committee, have been forced to take as the FAW has refused to be involved in our committee review.

"There is a total lack of a visible strategy from the governing body, and apparently no definitive planning for the development of our young players, women and girl's teams or disability football.

"Football in Wales is relying on the fantastic efforts of independent groups, organisations and local authorities to retain and develop a modernising way forward for the game and I commend them for their hard work. However, the split of the FAW and the FAW Trust, which ring-fences money for development in the Welsh game is confusing and makes the future of football in Wales unclear.

"We in the Assembly government have no intention of interfering with the professional development of the game in Wales, but this is why we must see a fully formed plan for the future from the FAW, as they are supposed to be Wales' governing, authoritative body for the sport.

"I am concerned that without the direction of the FAW, the failure to make best use of resources and facilities throughout Wales will continue, as well as our young grass roots talent being overlooked because of a confusing system of recruitment and development.

"I am worried that the complications that at the moment appear inherent in the system of football in Wales are holding back our nation's progress in the sport. I hope that when the final report of the committee is published in February the FAW will respond to our concerns and work to deliver the best possible future for football in Wales."

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