Power to the Premiership

RUPERT LOWE is no stranger to controversy. The St Mary's Iron Chairman has inspired both staunch supporters and fierce critics locally for his stewardship of Saints since 1997.

In that time, he has also ruffled feathers in both Whitehall and Brussels following battles with the British government and European Union over issues including work permit regulations for footballers and the Premiership's television deal with BSkyB.

Lowe is now reportedly turning his attention to the Football Association and has been involved in a lively debate after a document containing suggestions for the future of the FA was leaked.

As a Premier League representative on the main FA Board, Lowe is already one of a dozen men who make the big decisions surrounding the national obsession's future. The document has been presented by some as a blueprint for major structural change of the FA.

It reportedly suggests that the Premier League should take over the running of the England national team as well as the FA Cup - the most famous domestic football knockout tournament in the world. It also allegedly suggests the FA would be responsible only for rules, regulations and discipline, meaning Mark Palios' replacement as chief executive would wield little power.

Lowe, though, has refuted suggestions that professional clubs want to take over the England side as part of a radical shake-up of the FA.

He says it was simply a preliminary draft for debate from three high-ranking FA councillors - Geoff Thompson, Brian Mawhinney and Dave Richards.

He said: "It was merely a discussion document designed to start a debate which needs to take place. If there is no debate, nothing happens.

"The government is now in support of a broad-ranging review of the FA and its structure but this was not a blueprint, merely something designed to stimulate discussion.

"It was written in August and since then a lot of water has flowed under the bridge and everything has moved on. It has obviously been leaked.

"It has been made out to be a professional takeover of the FA which is nonsense because it is a discussion document designed to involve all the football family debating the way forward."

The precise content of the document is not in the public domain.

But many are wary of shifting the balance of power from the FA to the Premier League.

Some fear the already elite Premiership clubs claiming more money, possibly at the expense of their lower division cousins and the grass-roots game.

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson would surely be concerned by the implications of clubs running the national team, primarily because certain elite chairmen and managers often view England as a damaging drain on their players' energies.

The document has not yet been discussed at FA Board level as the governing body are still to appoint an independent chairman who will conduct his own structural review of the FA.

The FA met on Wednesday to debate who should be that independent chairman and an appointment is expected by the end of this month. When that is done, the document will be handed to him.

Geoff Thompson, the chairman of the FA, explained: "I would like to make clear that proposals made by FA Board member Rupert Lowe concerning a structural review have not been discussed by the FA Board.

"The FA has stated clearly in recent months that the Board is fully committed to a structural review and has commenced the process by considering the appointment of an independent chairman to conduct the review.

"I have identified potential candidates for the role of independent chairman.

"I hope to be in a position to make an appointment by the end of November. Once appointed, the independent chairman will consult with all the game's key stakeholders to obtain their views and recommendations with regard to the structure and constitution of the FA.

"Any blueprints, proposals or recommendations, such as those made by Rupert Lowe, or by any individual Board or Council member, will be referred to the independent chairman."

Most accept the FA is in need of revamping. The governing body has lost credibility in the wake of recent events such as the Faria Alam Affair and the failure to charge David Beckham with misconduct after he admitted he got himself booked on purpose against Wales.

And some now do feel the best way forward is to allow Premier League professionals to run more key aspects of the national game.

Ultimately, though, it remains hard to see the FA Board voting for a proposal which reduces their power significantly.

Hampshire FA chief executive Lawrence Jones accepts the FA needed changing, but "not necessarily anything significant."

He said: "What's important in any review is to understand the whole picture.

"In Hampshire we have 2,500 clubs - of which just two are in the Premiership - but the FA's role is to govern football at all levels, not just one aspect.

"We have a responsibility to all clubs, from Southampton and Portsmouth in the Premiership down to teams at parks level.

"We can't afford to ignore grass-roots football, it's the foundation of it all, but the England team should also remain the property of the FA.

"It's far easier for FIFA and UEFA to deal with another governing body in the FA than the Premier League, so for the continued development of football in this country it's important for that to be retained.

"The FA are undertaking a review at the moment, it recognises that some changes are needed, but not necessarily anything significant.

"It's a continual process of evolution and it's critical that in any change, football in this country is considered at every level, and not just one aspect."

Saints supporter Nick Illingsworth, who writes a weekly fans' column for the Daily Echo and who has been watching the club for almost 30 years, is concerned at any proposed extension in power for the Premier League.

He said: There would be nothing to gain for the England team, they should be the concern of the FA.

"The England side should be a representative side in its own right, and nothing to do with the Premier League."

Peter Sharkey, a national business sport journalist, is also sceptical of any plan to allow the Premier League to run the national team as well as the FA Cup.

"It sounds like asset-stripping to me. What makes the Premier League think they can run the England team and the FA Cup any better than the FA?" he asked.

"The Premier League have done a good job with their own league but I don't see any good reason for them getting involved with the England team or the FA Cup.

"The FA already market the FA Cup worldwide - a lot of their income comes from overseas television rights. I can't see how the Premier League could do a much better job there.

"It boils down to greed - why would the FA want to lose control of the England team and the FA Cup? It's not logical."