Hoey attacks FA values

Hoey attacked Granada chairman Charles Allen

Former Sports Minister Kate Hoey has launched a scathing attack on the main protagonists in the ITV Digital crisis.

In an exclusive interview on BBC Radio Five Live Hoey argued the Football Association - who have just announced a £400m loan to rebuild Wembley Stadium - could have done more to help struggling clubs.

It is appalling that the FA are allowing football clubs, some of who are at the absolute centre of their community, to fold

Kate Hoey

And she said the government was suffering from a "conflict of interests", while Carlton and Granada bore the brunt of the responsibility for ITV Digital's collapse.

"The FA should have got involved in supporting the Football League much earlier than they did," said Hoey, who was replaced by Richard Caborn as Sports Minister last year.

"There will be a lot of questions asked - particularly when in the same week the FA announce they are going to borrow all this money to rebuild Wembley.

"It is appalling that they are allowing football clubs, some of who are at the absolute centre of their community, to fold.

Hoey was also quick to criticise the government, and in particular the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, for their role in the crisis.

The FA are investing £400m on the redevelopment of Wembley

"I do not think the government should be bailing out clubs, but I do think that Tessa Jowell has a split responsibility.

"She is responsible overall for broadcasting, but then she is in charge of football - so she has a conflict of interests.

"Some of these people like Charles Allen (chairman of Granada) and Michael Green (chairman of Carlton) are good mates of certain people in Government.

"I really think they have got to get them by the scruff of the neck and tell them that they cannot get away with this."

Hoey also argued that Granada boss Allen should no longer be chairman of the Commonwealth Games.

Hoey said: "It is amazing that the chairman of Granada, is still the chairman of the Commonwealth Games.

"How has he been allowed to carry on and dodge the fact that Carlton and Granada are responsible for reneging on the deal."