FA told it should bring Crozier row 'to a head'

One of the Football Association's leading officials has called for the uncertainty surrounding Adam Crozier to be brought to a head for the good of both the chief executive and the FA.

There is increasing speculation that Crozier, who has been the subject of a concerted smear campaign against his "autocratic manner" for several weeks, will be the subject of a motion of no confidence at the next FA board meeting. However, that is not scheduled until late November and Paul Barber, the head of Information and Marketing, yesterday said that was too long to wait.

Barber said: "Adam is under a lot of unfair personal pressure and matters need to be brought to a head out of fairness to him. There has been a lot of misleading comment about Adam recently. He has done a very good job, a better job than anyone believed he would be able to. He would admit not everything has been perfect, and not everything has gone to plan. But he should be allowed to get on with the job."

Crozier is expected to discuss the situation with Geoff Thompson, the FA chairman, before the weekend but suggestions that Thompson will sack him are wide of the mark. He has no power to do so. Only the FA Board can do that. It could be that Thompson will tell Crozier that he has taken soundings and the board are against him. If so, Crozier might resign. If he resists, an emergency board meeting could be called.

The issue is certainly serious for Crozier, with even one of his main supporters, the Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, revealing the depth of feeling against the Scot. Dein, who has always trodden a careful path in his dual role as the vice-chairman of Arsenal and the FA, said: "It's clear Adam Crozier and his team have been responsible for the modernisation of the FA. But it's also evident he's seen by some to have exceeded the speed limit and caused casualties en route."

Crozier has refused to bow to pressure for the FA to pay clubs for players to appear for England. Dein said: "It's not unreasonable for the professional clubs, particularly in difficult economic times, to expect payment for their players on international duty."

* The FA is to appeal an "improper conduct" charge from Uefa over the misbehaviour of England fans at the match against Slovakia in Bratislava. The matter will be dealt with at the next hearing of Uefa's disciplinary panel on 21 November. The Slovak FA has also been charged over their supporters' racist abuse.