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Saint elsewhere

Tim Springett examines FA chariman Keith Wiseman's record at Southampton

In addition to holding the position of FA chairman, Keith Wiseman has been a director of Southampton Football Club for ten years, holding the post of vice-chairman until six months ago. He is also a solicitor, the coroner for the Southampton and New Forest area and a high-ranking member of the Hampshire branch of the Lawn Tennis Association. At first glance, he seems a veritable pillar of the community.

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Out of their league

John Sugden and Alan Tomlinson trace the toots of England's international impotence and the shambles at the FA

December’s crisis within the FA, when chairman Keith Wiseman and chief executive Graham Kelly faced a vote of no confidence from the FA Council, can only be properly understood in relation to English football’s recent lack of standing in Europe and in FIFA politics. In the run-up to the 1998 World Cup and critical UEFA and FIFA congresses, Kelly was asked whether the British associations lacked inf­luence in UEFA.

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Pompey crimes

Steven Morgan explores the financial depths to which Portsmouth have sunk

As Christmas presents go, it was like finally unwrapping something you’d asked for two years ago. Still, better late than never. Chairman Martin Gregory’s decision to quit Portsmouth on December 18th had been the top item on every fan’s festive wish list, such was the crippling financial damage wreaked during his three-year stint in charge.

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Graveside manor

Martin Brodetsky explains how a failed stadium scheme has pushed a club on the fringe of elite towards destruction

On Wednesday November 25th over 700 people crammed into Oxford Town Hall to attend a meeting organised by the pressure group FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United’s Life). The group was formed in November in response to the club’s dire situation: £13.5 million in debt; losing about £12,000 each week; a half-built stadium rusting away on the city outskirts (see WSC 140); and facing imminent receivership.

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Long division

Davy Millar looks at  examples of football becoming caught up in the politics of Northern Ireland

There are those who will argue that there should be a firm demarcation line between the worlds of sport and politics. They believe that the average altruistic politico is ill-prepared to survive contact with the rampant megalomania, corruption, cynicism, ex­ploitation and downright thuggery of modern professional sport. Or have I got it the wrong way round? It’s hard to tell these days.

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