Caborn frustrated at Burns delay

By Simon Austin

Sports minister Richard Caborn is "disappointed and frustrated" at the slow progress made in implementing the Burns report.

Saturday marks the first anniversary of the report, which set out proposals for restructuring the Football Association.

Caborn had said he wanted the key recommendations in place by the World Cup, but he is still waiting.

"There's no real evidence of change - Richard is disappointed and frustrated," a spokesman said.

Caborn is particularly keen that one key proposal - that two independent non-executive directors be included on a revamped FA board - be implemented.

This would bring the FA in line with common business practise and dilute the power of the Premier League in the governance of the game.

We are working towards a timetable that will allow a vote on the implementation of the Burns review by the end of the year FA spokesman

Yet this proposal is currently the major sticking point in the implementation of the report, with certain sections of the FA opposing it.

An FA spokesman told BBC Sport: "We are working towards a timetable that will allow a vote on the implementation of the Burns review by the end of the year."

Caborn met FA chairman Geoff Thompson on 20 July to discuss the progress the FA was making with Burns and to express his concerns at the delay in implementing it.

Four committees - professional game, national game, council and committees and regulation and compliance - were set up by the FA following the publication of the report.

The heads of these committees gave a progress report to the FA Council at its meeting in July.

In September the Council will debate the direction of implementation and in October proposals will be approved.

Yet the Council can only approve rules and regulations and the FA's shareholders will be left to vote on any constitutional changes.

The government ordered the review in 2004 following a year of controversy, including Rio Ferdinand's missed drug test and the Faria Alam affair.

Burns took six months to carry out his review and made a number of recommendations aimed at producing a stronger, more open, and better-respected organisation.