Vishal Banerjee
27th November 2007
Howard Davies used the UGM to deny rumors that he is set to take over the Football Association (FA) as Chairman or write a novel based on the world of business.
Howard Davies used the UGM to deny rumors that he is set to take over the Football Association (FA) as Chairman or write a novel based on the world of business.
The Daily Mail claimed that Howard Davies could be a candidate for the position of chairman of the FA last week.
The article, published on 17 November 2007, was written by Daily Mail columnist Charles Sale and states: “The latest name to emerge as a candidate for the independent FA chairman’s position is Sir Howard Davies, director of the London School of Economics, and a former director-general of the CBI, as well as an exdeputy [sic] governor of the Bank of England and special adviser to the Chancellor. Davies, an accomplished speaker and experienced in media relations, ticks all the boxes in the job advert.”
Speaking to The Beaver, Davies said, “The Daily Mail story was the first I have heard about it. No-one has been in touch with me at all, so there’s not much to say. A bit of kite-flying by a newspaper. I’ve always wanted to be chairman of Manchester City, actually, but sadly Thaksin Shinawatra has a bit more money than me”
Davies has already held a number of high profile jobs within his career, but added: “After last [Wednesday] night, I’d rather be chairman of the Croatian FA”.
Speculation over a link to the FA was followed by the claim that Davies is at work on a novel.
Writing in The Times last Thursday, Martin Waller claimed that the LSE director is penning “a Trollopian work set in the world of business…entitled My Word is My Bonus”. In his speech at the Man Booker Prize presentation ceremony, Davies had noted that “the British novel is not much engaged with the business world”.
At the UGM, Davies revealed that this claim led to his office being inundated by copies of such books, many of which were self-published and of indifferent quality.
One such novel was entitled My Word Is My Bonus and had previously been referred to by Davies. The Beaver understands that The Times misinterpreted Davies’ comments as an expression of desire to write a novel with such a title.