Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence


Annex 12

Letter, 13 April 2000, from Sport England to the Football Association

WEMBLEY

  As you will be aware from our correspondence and discussions over the last few weeks, I am becoming increasingly concerned to reach agreement with the Football Association over the repayment of the £20 million agreed between Ken Bates (on behalf of the Football Association) and the Secretary of State.

  In his letter to Ken Bates of 7 January 2000, the Secretary of State indicated that the agreement was a straightforward repayment as follows:

  "After discussing various possible options for repaying £20 million over a period, it was agreed that the best would be to commence repayments in year 2000, paying £3 million per annum in each of 2000, 2001 and 2002, £5 million in 2003 and £6 million in 2004. However, the FA would use its best endeavours to repay faster as money started to come in from Wembley earlier, and particularly as soon as corporate boxes started to be sold which could be as early as September 2000."

  In this context I am not clear why a proposal from the FA back to us does not simply reflect this agreement. We have not been informed of any other conditions attached to the agreement.

  I look forward to hearing from you—as always I would be happy to discuss.


 
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