FA chairman Greg Clarke has vehemently denied he will be “selling the soul” of English football if Fulham owner Shahid Khan buys Wembley.
Clarke and FA chief executive Martin Glenn are driving the proposed £1billion sale of the national stadium.
The FA high command want to plough £500m of the revenue into an endowment fund to build 1,500 3G and 4G artificial pitches and improve grassroots facilities nationwide.
But they have run into stiff opposition, both within the FA and outside, over the plans.
Ahead of a crucial meeting of the FA Council next Tuesday, at which opposition to the idea of the sale is expected to be marshalled, Clarke has strongly justified the proposed deal as the right move for the FA and the game.
In a letter and covering question and answer explanation, Clarke confronted the claim that he was looking to sell the “crown jewel” or “soul” of English football.
He said: “The FA did not own Wembley Stadium before 1999, so this is not a historic situation we are unwinding. We did not own it in 1966 or 1996.
“The emotional reactions and arguments are entirely understandable and that is why it is important that any owner of Wembley respects its role as the home of English football.
IT’S A SELL OUT Fan fury at FA plan to sell Wembley to Shahid Khan in stunning £1billion deal
“However, many also argue that the real ‘soul’ of English football is in clubs, leagues and volunteers up and down the country and that should be where the FA should focus its investment.”
Clarke revealed that Khan had made a previous offer for Wembley which was rejected because it was not deemed “serious and credible” at the time.
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No other potential buyer has come forward since the offer was announced last month.
This time, however, Clarke and the FA have been advised by bankers Rothschilds that Khan has made an offer above the market value of the stadium.
He added: “This offer represents a potential opportunity to invest in the game’s No1 challenge, the poor state of community football facilities, whilst not undermining Wembley Stadium’s status as the home of English football.
“The valuation is higher than the value registered in the accounts.
“If accepted The FA would no longer be responsible for the significant operational and capital expenditure costs of the stadium.
“The FA would retain the income from our FA generated events, such as England and FA Cup matches, even if the stadium was sold.
“In that sense, we would be divesting of the ongoing cost and liability of owning the stadium and retaining our existing revenue – which would all now go back into football.
“In addition, The FA offices would also remain in the stadium.”
Clarke, who told councillors he accepted the possible sale was an “emotive subject”, reiterated a deal was far from finalised and that the issue would not be resolved “until the autumn at the earliest”.
But the FA chairman did seek to address a number of other doubts, promising contractual arrangements would guarantee Wembley remained available for key dates in the season.
Although England will have to go “on the road” in October and November to allow the Jacksonville Jaguars to fulfil their NFL fixtures.
The FA believes renting the stadium to Khan for three months every year would be is “the worst of both worlds” even though the outstanding Wembley debt of £142m is scheduled to be repaid by 2024, saving the FA a paltry £3m per year.
But Clarke, who vowed the dela would include a block on renaming Wembley plus guarantees the FA would be granted approval rights on any sell-on or future use of the site, pushed the “transformational” benefits of the deal.
He added: “Only a significant development, such as selling Wembley, which would enable us to make the single biggest investment into grassroots football by any sporting body in the world, might make a real difference.
“Since 2000, £605m has been invested by the funding partners delivering outstanding outcomes.
“We have 700 new and improved artificial pitches, 3,500 improved grass pitches and 1,000 new and improved changing pavilions.
“This is a great start and by 2020 we will be able to take any new funds and ensure we build great facilities in the communities where they are most needed as quickly as we can.
“The FA Board will make the final decision but we will reflect the views of all the game’s stakeholders. The FA Council is the primary voice.
“This needs to be a decision made by consensus following thorough consultation.”
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