Post by QPR Report on Aug 28, 2009 6:33:39 GMT
Truly pathetic if anything to it.
Guardian = FA denies it caved into Manchester United pressure in removing Liverpool physio• Dave Galley will return to work with England Under-21s
• FA deny Man Utd's David Gill influenced the decision
The Football Association has denied it caved into pressure from Manchester United in removing a Liverpool Academy physiotherapist from duty with the England squad.
It is understood that Manchester United's chief executive David Gill, also a board member at the FA, objected to Dave Galley, who has more than 25 years' experience as a football physiotherapist, working with Fabio Capello's squad. It is understood that he objected on the grounds that using non-independent staff contravenes FA policy, although concerns a Premier League rival would have access to potentially sensitive medical information could have played a part.
Galley has worked with the Under-21s for several years before being seconded to the seniors for the friendly with Holland. He had been due to continue under the direction of the full-time physio Gary Lewin for the friendly with Slovenia and the World Cup qualifier against Croatia.
"Dave has reverted back to the Under-21s after one game," said an FA spokesman last night. "There should be no questions against his professionalism. We must be clear that there is an agreed board policy that has nothing to do with Manchester United, that the medical staff should be independent.
"Franco Baldini [Capello's general manager] and Rafael Benítez [Liverpool's manager] discussed the matter yesterday and it was explained we wanted to see Dave working with the team in the friendly this month. We deny any suggestion that we have been pressurised by Manchester United."
The FA policy of having independent medical staff saw Lewin appointed as the senior squad's full-time physiotherapist from Arsenal in August last year, with Ian Beasley joining as the England doctor four months later, also from Arsenal.
Galley first joined the Anfield backroom operation in 1999 before leaving in 2005 for stints as chief physiotherapist at Derby County, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic before returning to Liverpool.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/28/dave-galley-england-liverpool-manchester-united
Guardian = FA denies it caved into Manchester United pressure in removing Liverpool physio• Dave Galley will return to work with England Under-21s
• FA deny Man Utd's David Gill influenced the decision
The Football Association has denied it caved into pressure from Manchester United in removing a Liverpool Academy physiotherapist from duty with the England squad.
It is understood that Manchester United's chief executive David Gill, also a board member at the FA, objected to Dave Galley, who has more than 25 years' experience as a football physiotherapist, working with Fabio Capello's squad. It is understood that he objected on the grounds that using non-independent staff contravenes FA policy, although concerns a Premier League rival would have access to potentially sensitive medical information could have played a part.
Galley has worked with the Under-21s for several years before being seconded to the seniors for the friendly with Holland. He had been due to continue under the direction of the full-time physio Gary Lewin for the friendly with Slovenia and the World Cup qualifier against Croatia.
"Dave has reverted back to the Under-21s after one game," said an FA spokesman last night. "There should be no questions against his professionalism. We must be clear that there is an agreed board policy that has nothing to do with Manchester United, that the medical staff should be independent.
"Franco Baldini [Capello's general manager] and Rafael Benítez [Liverpool's manager] discussed the matter yesterday and it was explained we wanted to see Dave working with the team in the friendly this month. We deny any suggestion that we have been pressurised by Manchester United."
The FA policy of having independent medical staff saw Lewin appointed as the senior squad's full-time physiotherapist from Arsenal in August last year, with Ian Beasley joining as the England doctor four months later, also from Arsenal.
Galley first joined the Anfield backroom operation in 1999 before leaving in 2005 for stints as chief physiotherapist at Derby County, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic before returning to Liverpool.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/28/dave-galley-england-liverpool-manchester-united