Kenyon calls for 2018 bid unity

Scudamore (left) dismissed Triesman's claims about club debt

Peter Kenyon believes England's 2018 World Cup bid may be harmed by the uneasy relationship between the Premier League and the Football Association.

FA chairman Lord Triesman is leading the 2018 campaign but recently clashed with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore over club debt.

Now Chelsea chief executive Kenyon has called for the two bodies to unify and give their full backing to the bid.

"It's important that both parties speak with a single voice," he said.

"If we are not careful there are own goals that could be scored which don't have to be."

In October, Triesman spoke out about the global credit crisis and how it poses a "terrible danger" to clubs dealing with spiralling debts, a claim rejected by Scudamore.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on England's 2018 World Cup bid

And at the start of this month, the FA chairman called for more money generated by the Premier League to filter down the football pyramid.

Neither Scudamore, or any reprehensive from England's top division, currently sit on the 2018 board and Kenyon is keen to see relations thaw in order to help the bid progress.

"Everyone around the table wants English football to progress and that doesn't mean just club football," he added. "It means ultimately getting the World Cup in 2018.

"We have a fantastic product. The structure of the 2018 project is still being finalised and I'm sure there are plenty of opportunities for a broader group to be active in the bid.

"Once this thing gets rolling, it will engage. As I travel round the world, the leagues and the associations are not contradictory and speak in the same vein on issues. This is where we need to concentrate our efforts.

"We should not be shooting ourselves in the foot at critical times like this."

Meanwhile, England manager Fabio Capello has been named as one of six new bid vice-presidents for the bid.

He was named along with Kenyon, former FA chairman Geoff Thompson, Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor, Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy and Lord Stern of Brentford, formerly chief economist of the World Bank.