Greg Dyke's dismissals cause FA dismay as Andy Roddick serves up a treat as a pundit 

  • Three senior executives Roger Maslin, Jonathan Hall and Alistair Maclean have been made redundant by the FA
  • Move is part of FA chariman's Greg Dyke's £30m-a-year cost-cutting plans
  • Andy Roddick was a highly-informed pundit during Wimbledon
  • His insight could mean a lesser role for Tim Henman during commentary 

By Charles Sale for the Daily Mail

Published: 16:30 EST, 12 July 2015 | Updated: 01:41 EST, 13 July 2015

The way the FA have handled the departure of three senior executives caused serious concern at the FA’s summer meeting at St George’s Park.

FA councillors were furious about not being informed that Roger Maslin, Jonathan Hall and Alistair Maclean were being made redundant as part of chairman Greg Dyke’s £30million-a-year cost-cutting plans to fund his England team-based policies.

The blazers complained they found out about the high-level exits from Sports Agenda last Friday, although Wembley staff had been informed via an internal email the previous morning.

Greg Dyke has come under criticism from FA councillors for his latest £30million-a-year cost-cutting plans

Greg Dyke has come under criticism from FA councillors for his latest £30million-a-year cost-cutting plans

As well as the lack of transparency between board and council, firebrand councillor Jack Pearce also moaned about the role of independent directors on the FA board and Dyke too often ‘shooting from the hip’.

Ironically, after this stormy summit, Pearce was elected to the very FA board he had just lambasted as a representative of the grassroots National Game board.

Dyke looked visibly annoyed by the level of opposition on the council floor and left St George’s Park before the second lavish dinner of the weekend. An FA spokesman said it was always his intention to do so.

Three senior FA executives Jonathan Hall (pictured), Roger Maslin and Alistair Maclean are now redundant

Three senior FA executives Jonathan Hall (pictured), Roger Maslin and Alistair Maclean are now redundant

 

The choice of John Inverdale to take on the women’s singles final in his first Wimbledon as a match commentator is said by BBC insiders to reflect sympathy at his losing the anchor role for the Wimbledon highlights show - and the Clare Balding presenting mess that followed. But a big plus for BBC is the signing of Andy Roddick as a highly informed pundit, who will surely relegate Tim Henman to lesser matches now.

Andy Roddick's employment as a pundit for the BBC during Wimbledon has been one of their big plus points

Andy Roddick's employment as a pundit for the BBC during Wimbledon has been one of their big plus points

 

Six years after Brian Barwick received a £1.5m pay-off from the FA when then charman Lord Triesman felt he didn’t have the skillset to be chief executive, Barwick has returned to the FA council as chairman of the Vanarama Conference. And it was Barwick, in the council debate about Hull City changing their name to Hull Tigers, who suggested Hull City Tigers.

 

With the scrutiny on the illegal sale of tickets at its most forensic during Wimbledon fortnight, snooker player Matthew Selt was ill-advised to announce on Twitter that he had spent thousands of pounds acquiring seats for the men’s finals. No doubt the Wimbledon authorities will be on his case.

Matthew Selt could face some questions after he announced that he paid thousands for Centre Court tickets

Matthew Selt could face some questions after he announced that he paid thousands for Centre Court tickets

 

Cricket chiefs make up

Warring cricket politicians Giles Clarke and Ehsan Mani came face-to-face in the same box at the Cardiff Test for the first time since Clarke made a fool of himself haranguing Mani after his speech at the Wisden book launch. However, after Mani greeted Clarke on arrival, the pair chatted amicably for the day.

 

The importance to England Test players of the number on the shirts - reflecting their debut position since records began - is reflected by Graeme Swann, who quit cricket during the last Ashes series, even changing his telephone number to highlight how much his number means to him.

Graeme Swann (right) has changed his telephone digits to reflect the number he wore during his Test career

Graeme Swann (right) has changed his telephone digits to reflect the number he wore during his Test career

 

There was little animosity demonstrated during the first Ashes Test, but it’s highly unlikely that the series will end with both sides sitting in the dressing room sharing beers until after midnight – as happened in Durham following the epic one-day series against New Zealand. 

 

England fast bowler Mark Wood must be one of the few Geordies to support AFC Wimbledon. This is said to have come about because highly popular Wood, who collected football stickers as a kid, reckoned Dons goalkeeper Hans Segers looked like his dad.

England fast bowler Mark Wood is an AFC Wimbledon fan after believing his father looked liked Hans Segers

England fast bowler Mark Wood is an AFC Wimbledon fan after believing his father looked liked Hans Segers

 

The All England Club traditionally mount a public charity sale the day after the tournament to sell off the boxes and baskets of flowers decorating the grounds. But this year all the plants are being sold to staff, members and contractors. A spokesman said it was becoming too difficult to manage. Meanwhile, there is a health and safety issue around the big willow tree under which Wimbledon have a temporary gym in a marquee where players warm up before practise. One branch collapsed in the heat, narrowly missing the marquee.

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