 Palios played for Crewe and Tranmere |
Mark Palios took up the reigns as the FA's new chief executive at Soho Square on Tuesday and predicted exciting times are ahead. The former Tranmere Rovers and Crewe Alexandra midfielder was named as successor to Adam Crozier back in May after a six-month search.
He assumes the position during a difficult period for English football's governing body, with the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium still ongoing and the FA suffering financial problems.
But he insisted that the game is in safe hands.
"The FA is one of football's oldest and most famous organisations," he told the FA's website.
"I see it as a great privilege to be leading the FA at a very exciting and demanding time for football.
"The game is still by far the most popular sport on earth and the numbers of people playing, watching and becoming involved in football in all its forms continues to grow.
"This is a fantastic foundation on which to build for the future.
"As a former player and as a fan of the game, I am in no doubt that the FA must at all times put football first.
"I am well aware that, with responsibility for building a fantastic new national stadium, our organisation and our resources have been stretched in recent years.
"But we must always remember why we are here and consider our responsibilities to the entire game at all levels. It's about getting the balance right."
 Our much written-about financial position has been stabilised in recent weeks |
The 50-year-old has been handed a remit to engineer greater harmony within the English game and to improve the FA's relationship with Uefa following the failed bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals.
"I am in no doubt that there will be significant challenges ahead," he said.
"We must, for example, ensure that relationships across the game improve.
"There are now a large number of talented and experienced people working at all levels and across many bodies and organisations in the game and we must harness this collective talent for the good of football.
"Our much written-about financial position has been stabilised in recent weeks and we must now review and agree the FA's priorities and determine the necessary funding strategy to support them."
MMIX
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