Palios resigns from FA

Pacifico

Mark Palios tonight resigned as chief executive of the UK Football Association.

Palios informed FA chairman Geoff Thompson of his decision at 6pm, and it was accepted with immediate effect.

While Palios insists he has done nothing wrong, his position had come under increasing pressure after this morning’s News of the World claimed that director of communications Colin Gibson had offered a full and extensive account of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson’s relationship with FA secretary Faria Alam in exchange for keeping Palios – with whom Alam also had a relationship – out of the story.

Mr Gibson appeared to confirm his conversations with the newspaper with a statement he issued this morning.

He said: “Last week I complied with the FA enquiry, gave them complete details of the events of July 24, including transcripts of telephone calls, my minute-to-minute movements and supplied them with a complete list of all my telephone calls.

“The FA knew about the details last week and the story about brokering a deal.”

Palios said tonight: “I am very sad that I feel this is necessary.

“It has been a privilege to be chief executive of the Football Association but with privilege comes the burden of responsibility.”

Also.....

Director of communications Colin Gibson offers his resignation to the UK Football Association board.

The FA board will announce a decision on Gibson's future tomorrow.

Slight over-reaction on the FA's part?

mike65

This takes some of the pressure off Sven. Which the FA as a whole won't mind as it spares the suits the agony of making a hard decision.

Headline from the Independent.

'It was not sensible for Palios to dip his pen in the office ink'

Mike.

gandalf

My god this lot are making the FAI look professional. I knew it was a bad idea for the FA to have their headquarters in Soho !!!

beer enigma

I feel very sorry for Palios & Sven.......Gibson got what he deserved.

I have to be honest in that I do know Mark Palios personally, so you may consider this a biased view......

Gibson seems to have gone on a power trip & organised the release off of his own back. I think Palios has gone as he feels this whole mess makes his position impossible. Palios & Sven had their differences, but I don't think Mark Palios would have agreed to the tactics used.

Bateman

>>>Gibson seems to have gone on a power trip & organised the release off of his own back

Have to agree, he is the real villian, what an idiot. He should be slaughtered, and to be fair, neither Eriksson and Palios should have to resign.

beer enigma

Bateman wrote:

>>>Gibson seems to have gone on a power trip & organised the release off of his own back

Have to agree, he is the real villian, what an idiot. He should be slaughtered, and to be fair, neither Eriksson and Palios should have to resign.

Jeez Bateman...you agreeing with me for once - I must be getting soft in my old age......

In fairness....what a shambles.

Why is it that the English FA seem to make a b*lls up of everything. We've had so many country managers over the past decade, it would be impossible to expect consitancy or success. The one time they get a manager who has hinted as success (Euro 2004 was out best shot yet), they try to undermine him.

Power trips..........

Bateman

In fairness, Eriksson went and shagged the PA, he bottled it against Brazil in WC02, he isn't the perfect manager. However, that something pathetic like this is bringing him down (if it does) is a poor reflection on the FA.

The Brigadier

The reason Palio resigned is not so much that he played on the company pitch. What had happened was the press were due to run a story on Palios and the secretary. An offer came from the communications office offering the story of Ericsson in return for Palios being dropped.

naitkris

this is such a mess when it shouldn't be one in the first place. can't understand why a person's peronal life has so much to do with their job that they get sacked or must resign for it...