Gary Lineker on FA Chairman Greg Clarke's resignation and why he's not interested in the role
Gary Lineker appeared on Good Morning Britain today and spoke about his response to Stan Collymore’s tweet saying he should step in to Football Association Chairman Greg Clarke’s role following his resignation yesterday, after using unacceptable comments about black people.
Gary said in his reply to Stan he’d never been asked by anybody at the top of the FA on his views on anything. When Piers Morgan asked Gary if he’d be interested in the role, Gary said: “Well firstly, I’ve known Greg for a long time and he’s done quite a lot of good for diversity in the FA, but he had an awful day yesterday. He’s had a tough year with the Premier League top six story, etc. He’s moved on, now they’re looking for someone else. I’m not a great organiser, I don’t think I’d be very good at that role anyway and obviously I have other jobs in football. But no, I’ve never been asked for my views on anything by our governing bodies.”
He added: “I think the problem with football is that we do have three governing bodies - one of many problems in terms of how we run things. That is a problem because they kind of work against each other’s interests. Until we come together as one and unite, all singing from the same hymn sheet, I don’t think we’ll get things sorted out because it’s very difficult."
When Piers commented the FA hierarchy is all white men, Gary said: “Totally agree with that and hopefully things will change in the near future. Lots of old white men like me!”
On turning 60 on November 30th, Gary joked: “I might be old enough to qualify for the FA at some point!”