Sports Governing Bodies

The debacle of the ‘resignation’ of England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen and the ‘removal’ of Peter Moores as coach of the England side is yet another revelation of the amazing incompetence of the governing bodies of English sport – as if one were needed. The apparent inability of these bodies to organise a heavy drinking session in a building dedicated to the making of beer has long been apparent to your average sports betting fan. Football leads the way with the Football Associations past appointment of Steve McLaren as the England football manager, when even those citizens with the most limited knowledge of footballing matters could see that he was the least worthy option at the time.

Will Carling, former England Rugby Union captain, famously described his governing body as ’57 old farts’ while English Lawn Tennis bosses have only recently begun to succumb to pressure to take tennis into the 20th century. Tennis betting fans look forward to the day when they decide to move it into the 21st. The Jockey Club is one of the worst, presiding, ostrich-like, over a deteriorating confidence in the fairness of racing, given all the recent fixing scandals. Snooker, Darts and Athletics are the same. The Olympics? Don’t get me started.

It’s an Ashes year and our cricketing bosses have just handed over a huge morale boost to a newly vulnerable Australian team which must now be rubbing its hands with glee. Cricket betting fans will be dismayed as a summer of potential cricketing triumph slowly slips from our grip like a sitter from Pietersen’s hands.

It’s long been clear to me that these cigar chomping, jobs-for-the-boys, old fogies should be swept aside in favour of a modern group of proactive and energetic individuals who understand the cutting edge of sport, as well as people-management, and who can lead us into a New World of sporting excellence. And what better and braver way than to create a democracy, with these bodies, where the guiding committee is elected by the players and athletes themselves?