Gibson criticises Highbury-chief’s role

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has criticised David Dein’s role within the FA after Middlesbrough manager Steve McLaren was appointed England head coach.

Gibson implied that Dein, who is also vice-chairman of Arsenal, was working within a conflict of interest for England and Arsenal.

Gibson said: “How someone like David Dein can be kingmaker, I don’t know.

“The FA is there for the good of English football, but was Arsène Wenger interviewed? Why was he protected?”

Wenger has previously said that he was approached but turned the offer to manage England down.

“How many England internationals are there from Arsenal? And yet he presents us with a Brazilian living and working in Portugal,” Gibson added, referring to reports that the FA had offered the England job to Portugal manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Gibson also criticised the long, drawn out process that took place during the recruitment process.

Gibson said: “It has taken so long. Has it damaged our football club? Definitely.

“If he hadn’t got the job, I couldn’t actually replace him. So how do I recruit?

“The process was far too long and I don’t quite understand whether the process is right.

“I think the structure of the FA makes their life difficult. I think there are some great individuals – and I would not want to be critical of them – but I would be critical of the structure.

“Whether they change it is for them to decide. They have a good man in Brian Barwick and good men at the top, but they have to be more professional.

“The Premier League is a great model. It is efficient, well run by individuals such as the chief executive, and the FA has to become that and they have to be ruthless in their pursuit of it.

“But will it happen? I don’t know.”