Adam Crozier, English soccer's top administrator, has resigned as chief executive of the Football Association. Crozier, who took over at the FA in January 2000 after leaving advertising group Saatchi and Saatchi, has been under pressure because of disagreements with other leading officials about commercial deals involving the England team.
"It is with great regret and sadness that I have today accepted Adam Crozier's resignation," said Geoff Thompson, the FA's chairman, in a statement. "During almost three years as our chief executive, Adam has led the transformation of the FA into a successful, modern organisation, which I know is now respected throughout the world in sport and in business."
Thompson said Crozier's decision was based on two key principles - that the three-year programme he initiated in January 2000 was coming to a natural end and because of a difference of opinion over how the game should be run and regulated.
Thompson continued: "Adam has always set ambitious and motivating targets for the FA and its people and he has surpassed all our expectations by meeting his objectives and bringing about important and progressive changes to the way we run our organisation."
One of the main points of contention between Crozier and Thompson was the Scot's allegedly autocratic style of management. Crozier, who was reputedly earning £600,000 a year, recently angered leading premier league officials, who represent the interests of the top clubs, by signing a sponsorship deal for England players without consulting them.
Speaking tonight outside the FA's Soho Square headquarters, Crozier said: "I am very, very happy I have made the right decision - and for all the right reasons. I am extremely proud of everything we have achieved here at the FA over the last three years. I am very, very proud of the staff and I would like to thank everyone in the game who has given me such fantastic support in order to achieve all we have done."
Filed by Shane Murray
