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Conference Chairmen have voted overwhelmingly against extending Paul Fairclough's reign as England National Game Manager - unfortunately they have no say in the matter.
Fairclough, who took over the England role before joining Barnet in 2003, is employed by the FA rather than the Conference, but the Conference have released details of a poll of it's members stating that 76% of the entire membership want a manager and any coaching staff to be independent of any Club. Fairclough's contract runs to the summer, and the Conference will seek a different face at the helm. The Conference statement reads: "The Conference do not seek the cancellation of any existing contract - on the contrary, the Conference believes that any contract should be honoured - but at the end of this season when the FA's contract with Paul Fairclough ends, the Conference would be seeking an independent manager to be appointed by the FA in line with previous custom and practise."
Exeter manager Alex Inglethorpe's association with the side is also at threat, with the statement adding: "It is clear that the vast majority of the clubs in the conference, feel that a dual role provides an unfair advantage to the England management. In this respect, it is also clear that if no contractual obligation exists with any of the current coaching staff then they should immediately be replaced with coaches who are independent and not employed by clubs."
Disquiet over Fairclough's role came to the fore in June when, at an awards dinner, several Conference Chairmen allegedly led by Fairclough's former employer at Stevenage, Phil Wallace, met with a view to depose Fairclough. At the time Conference chief John Moules denied the meeting but admitted to general unhappiness at Fairclough's role.
The FA are yet to respond to the statement, but it is likely Fairclough and Inglethorpe will continue in their roles for the forthcoming tournament in Belgium next month.
