Annex 16
Letter, 9 February 2000, from the then
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to the Chairman
of the Football Association
Thank you for your letter of 31 January seeking
confirmation of your understanding of the Association's offer
to return £20 million to Sport England following agreement
to remove athletics from the new National Stadium.
As I made clear in my evidence to the Select
Committee last week, I accept that all parties have acted in good
faith. However, we have accepted the offer by the FA to return
£20 million to Sport England over five years, with a clear
commitment to use its best endeavours to ensure this happens sooner
if at all possible. We have discussed with Derek Casey some of
the issues in relation to their role as a Lottery distributor,
and have confirmed that it seems wholly reasonable to consider,
with legal advice, amendments to particular conditions of the
Lottery Funding Agreement which are requested by parties to the
original agreement. While this could include relaxation of the
existing commercial constraints upon WNSL, such as naming rights,
we will have to take a view on the proposals once the detail has
emerged. I also note your concerns about the effect of any perceived
liability on the part of the FA.
I understand that a meeting between the FA and
Sport England is already scheduled for later this month, and I
am confident that the spirit of constructive co-operation you
mention will realise a solution acceptable to all parties.
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