Sir Dave Richards, the Premier League chairman, gave earnest thought to quitting frontline football politics earlier this year.
Digger learnt at the Leaders In Football conference at Stamford Bridge yesterday that Richards let slip to several people at last summer's World Cup in South Africa his belief that it might be time to bow out of the game entirely. That would have been a seismic development, since Richards is widely regarded as the most powerful man in English football, with his concurrent chairmanship of the Football Association's professional game board and the Club England set-up.
Richards was so serious about moving on after more than a decade at the Premier League that he told friends it might be time to focus away from the game and on a new business venture. To that end he and his son, David, have set up a marketing, design and merchandise company in Sheffield, called Glue.
However Richards has now thought again. "I probably did say that," he told Digger. "But there is no way I am thinking about it now."
Friends say he was going through a bad time around the World Cup – and it explains why he unexpectedly chose not to put himself forward for the nominations committee to find a successor to Lord Triesman as the chairman of the FA.
Although none of the friends would say what was gnawing at him, it was only a month after the general election. Richards is viewed suspiciously by some at Westminster, particularly among those in the coalition government who recall his close relationship with Labour's former sports minister Richard Caborn.
One way or the other the 67-year‑old will soon be required to step down, however. The Premier League's constitution provides for directors to serve only until their 70th birthday.
Thompson hides his light
Geoff Thompson, chairman of England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup, declined several requests to appear on the Stamford Bridge stage during the Leaders in Football conference this week and it seem to have been a wise move after the unguarded comments of others caused much controversy. But Thompson, a Fifa vice-president, has been active around the sidelines, dining with fellow executive-committee members Chuck Blazer, Mohamed Bin Hammam and Chung Mong-joon. How highly Thompson is regarded was in evidence through the testimony of Angel María Villar Llona, Spain's executive-committee member. "Geoffrey has taught me a lot and I am very grateful," he said. Not bad for a man often maligned in England as a wallflower.
Bitel's big portfolio
Nick Bitel demonstrated he is sport's most influential lawyer by adding the chairmanship of the Sports Rights Owners Coalition to his broad portfolio. He took up the position from Nic Coward, the British Horseracing Authority's chief executive, during its congress at the Leaders in Football conference yesterday.
Comolli's sinking feeling
Damien Comolli, one-time sporting director of Tottenham Hotspur, was in London yesterday for the European Professional Football Leagues general assembly. His current club, St‑Etienne, have had a good start in Ligue 1, currently sitting second in the table.
Is this down to the sporting director, asked Digger. "Perhaps." And will it translate to a title win? He thinks not: St-Etienne started brightly last year too, before falling away. So where will they finish this year? "Tenth or 12th," he says.
Sinner turns saintly
Angel María Villar Llona was asked about the time, in a match between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao on 24 March 1974, when a certain defensive midfielder named Villar Llona landed a left hook on Barça's Johan Cruyff. "Very, very correct," he answered, explaining he walked off without waiting to be shown the red card. And Villar Llona's job today? Head of the Fifa referees' committee.
