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Former Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Dyke has criticised the "old men of English football" ahead of Thursday's parliamentary debate regarding potential reform of the governing body. Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) select committee chairman Damian Collins has secured a debate in the Houses of Commons to consider a "no confidence" motion on the FA's ability to reform itself. The committee has published two reports since 2010 recommending greater representation at the FA for fans and the grassroots game, as well as more diversity in positions of authority. It also wants to dilute the perceived dominance of the Premier League. "You shouldn't underestimate the old men of English football. They've seen off all sorts of people over the years," Dyke told BBC Radio 5 live. "Government are now saying if you don't do these things you'll lose money and we won't support you in the future. Who knows, they are stupid enough to say 'we're going to fight it anyway.'" "There needs to be radical change. You've got to have younger people there, more women, supporters, ethnic minorities -- it's got to change. "The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has produced two papers over the years that have both pressed for change and both been completely ignored by this bunch of old guys." On Tuesday, FA chairman Greg Clarke promised to step down if he fails to convince sports minister Tracey Crouch that the governing body is serious about reforming itself. Last autumn, the government published new guidance on best practice for sports governance, with a clear warning public funding would be withheld from national governing bodies that fail to meet the standards or at least make significant steps in the right direction. Information from the Press Association was used in this report.
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