Ex City chairman lands key FA role
DAVID Bernstein, the senior businessman and fomer chairman of Manchester City FC, looks set to take one of the most important jobs in football, chairman of The Football Association.
St Helens-born, London-based Mr Bernstein, 67, is expected to take over in the role after a vote by the FA Council on January 25.
He was on the board of Manchester City FC for nine years, five of them as chairman.
He led negotiations with Manchester City Council to take the club to the City of Manchester Stadium.
A chartered accountant by training, he has sat on the boards of several public companies including the French Connection Group, Ted Baker and Blacks Leisure, where he has been chairman since 1996.
He has been a director of Wembley Stadium since 2003, and its chairman since
2008.
Mr Bernstein said: “I am honoured to be asked to take on the role as chairman of The FA. It is a tremendous challenge but I look forward to working with the board, the staff at The FA and everyone in football from local playing fields to Wembley and the international stage.”
Mr Bernstein will take over from acting chairman Roger Burden, who withdrew his application for the post earlier this month in protest at FIFA’s World Cup bidding process, which saw England humilated after gaining only two votes for the 2018 World Cup.
He fills a vacany created by Lord Triesman’s resignation in May.
