Ad-man's stadium dream

Image conscious: But has Crozier has his day?

BBC Sport Online profiles the FA's under-fire chief executive Adam Crozier - the man at the helm of the bid to redevelop Wembley.

It is not unusual for employees to depart under a cloud, but Adam Crozier arrived of the Football Association under one.

When he replaced Graham Kelly as chief executive late in 1999 he quickly got off to a flying start, becoming credited with dragging the FA into the 21st century.

The former advertising executive's admission that he falsified sales figures while working for the Daily Telegraph newspaper was quickly forgotten.

But the Wembley saga has threatened to end his honeymoon period.

There were suggestions he wanted the government to do a secret deal.

Crozier was also reported to have accused a South American football agent of pocketing millions over the transfer of Aston Villa's Juan Pablo Angel.

Each newspaper item is the latest chapter in a short but already colourful career.

Top dog

Crozier beat numerous other highly regarded applicants to his £300,000-a-year job.

Among them were the chief executive officer of New Zealand rugby David Moffett, and Glen Kirton, an old FA hand who lost out to Kelly back in 1988.

Announcing his appointment, the FA described Crozier as "the unanimous choice from an outstanding list of candidates".

The Wembley fiasco has tarnished Crozier's reign

Despite only being in his mid-thirties, his credentials were impressive.

Crozier successfully held together advertising company Saatchi and Saatchi, after the controversial departure of the founding brothers.

He was viewed as the best man to make radical, overdue changes to the FA and was given virtually a free hand to help modernise the institution.

His appointment nevertheless raised some eyebrows, not least because he was a Scot.

Asked who he would be supporting when the two countries met he replied with a slight non sequitur: "A diplomatic silence," he said, "is probably my best bet."

Failed dream

Born on the Isle of Bute, Crozier tried and failed to become a footballer with Hibernian and Stirling Albion, before opting for a career in business.

He joined the Telegraph in 1989 at a time of great change for the paper and industry generally.

He quickly impressed his managers with his ability not only to win adverts for the paper, but to increase revenues.

Crozier (r) played a vital role in attracting Sven Goran Eriksson to the job

In the now well-publicised scandal he admitted to reporting figures significantly higher than were being paid.

He later admitted: "It was the mistake of a young man, which resulted in absolutely no gain whatsoever.

"My explanation was accepted by my employers of the time and shortly afterwards they transferred me to run their Scottish office.

"What happened was never repeated again."

When news of this got out, it was the worst possible start for the FA, reeling from the controversial departures of Kelly and England coach Glenn Hoddle.

But since then Crozier and his employers have enjoyed more positive headlines.

The chief executive played a vital and personal role in securing Sven Goran Eriksson's signature and continues to enjoy a close relationship with the new England coach.

And Crozier presided over a period of relative calm for the organisation - at least until the controversy over Wembley's redevelopment.

Where he goes from here remains uncertain. Thus far, he has received staunch support from the FA.

But it remains possible that he may share the plight of the England's national stadium - looking for a new home.