Thursday December 23

NEW FA CHAIRMAN: In The Times Patrick Barclay thinks that the last thing the FA needs is another businessman. The game was crying out for a football man like Howard Wilkinson. The Daily Mail’s Charles Sale says the FA played it ultra safe with the appointment of David Bernstein. Former Arsenal chairman David Dein would have been much more likely to bring about needed change in football. The Daily Telegraph’s Henry Winter concedes that consensus is important but a real leader would have arrived with a plan of attack. Even FIFA has real football men like Beckenbauer and Platini. The Guardian’s David Conn thinks that Bernstein is a man of substance but he must prove that he has the vision for the job. He needs a positive programme for the game’s reform and rejuvenation.The Daily Mirror’s Martin Lipton says  Bernstein should prioritise the national team. Everyone benefits from a strong England team. In The Daily Express John Dillon insists that the FA’s relationship with the Premier League must improve. The Independent’s Sam Wallace thinks that the success of the England team, and the appointment of Fabio Capello’s successor, will be a major factor in how Bernstein is judged.

FOOTBALL: In The Daily Express Graham Taylor says he would do the England job again if asked. You can’t say no to England.

THE ASHES: In The Daily Mirror Ian Botham tells the England players that there is nothing else to save themselves for. The MCG represents the culmination of 18 months’ worth of hard work. In The Times Mike Atherton argues that Andy Flower would have been a more worthy recipient of the BBC’s coach of the year award than golf’s Colin Montgomerie. In The Independent Bob Willis believes Graeme Swann can be England’s trump card in Melbourne. The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Vaughan wants to see Jimmy Anderson do for England what Mitchell Johnson did for Australia. Simon Hughes explains why England’s latest problems are good for the game of cricket.

RACING: In The Times Tom Scudamore discounts the view that racing conspired to get their man, Tony McCoy, to win the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year.

QUOTE: ‘Perfect for the FA – he [Bernstein] never offends anyone, and ­allegedly never makes a decision.’ - Alan Sugar