Link: Profile: Chelsea chief executive Trevor Birch
Birch, who has served as chief executive with both Chelsea and Leeds, recently quit the same role at Everton after just six weeks in the job. He is currently on holiday, but could be approached by the FA on his return.
‘Trevor is a very good option for the FA,’ said Philip Long, head of corporate recovery at PKF, who has worked with several football clubs in the past.
Long said the FA could use someone with Birch’s experience to aid completion of its national stadium project at Wembley.
Other favourites tipped for the role include former West Ham and England favourite Trevor Brooking and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore. Liverpool chief executive and accountant Rick Parry has also been linked with the job.
Last week, former cabinet minister and head of the government’s football taskforce David Mellor called for an inquiry into the FA’s finances following the embarrassing resignation of Palios. But Palios’ work was praised by sports minister Richard Caborn, who said he did a ‘first-class job in restructuring the FA and dealing with the finances’.
The FA refused to comment further on its search for a new chief executive.
Current FA chairman Geoff Thompson is being assisted by the FA’s professional game chairman Dave Richards and national game chairman Roger Burden, in leading the organisation for an interim period.