The soon-to-be chief executive of the FA, Mark Bullingham will meet England players’ agents this week in a bid to end the long-running saga over commercial rights.
Discussions over how to split the commercial cash generated from sponsors linked to the national team have been ongoing since before the World Cup, but an agreement remains elusive.
An insider said that Bullingham, who will replace the outgoing Martin Glenn at the end of the season, is keen to break what is becoming a frustrating impasse.
Bullingham, 48, is currently the FA’s chief commercial and football development officer.
After joining the organisation in 2016 he has been credited with overseeing a 25 per cent rise in annual revenue and it is hoped his commercial acumen will prove key in what have proved to be tricky negotiations.
The FA decided last year that their deal with the England team’s management company — 1966 Entertainment — would not be renewed following the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
While previous talks have been described as ‘amicable’ there is a feeling that a deal now needs to be done with a quiet confidence that that will be the case.
Key to a resolution will be an agreement with the Wasserman Media Group, who represent Ross Barkley, Jordan Henderson and John Stones.
A source said: “There is a feeling that enough is enough, and that Mark will be stepping up efforts this week by meeting with many of the key players. There is also a belief that, given the success he’s had in his current role, an agreement should not be far away.”
