Dan Ashworth: FA technical director's position untenable - Dame Heather Rabbatts
Dan Ashworth is the Football Association's technical director
Dan Ashworth's position as the Football Association's technical director is "untenable", says former board member Dame Heather Rabbatts.
Ashworth appeared at a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday over the FA's handling of discrimination claims against ex-England women boss Mark Sampson.
"There's a feeling sometimes that these issues of diversity are not as important as the big stuff," Rabbatts told the BBC.
"All the profits the FA has will not buy back its loss of reputation."
Ashworth, who has been at the FA since 2012, helped appoint Sampson - who was sacked last month after evidence of "inappropriate and unacceptable" behaviour with female players in a previous role - in December 2013.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek, Rabbatts said:
Diversity on the football pitch was not reflected elsewhere;She was not convinced the FA showed "sorrow or contrition" at the hearing;The FA has to send a signal if they want people to come forward.
Rabbatts stepped down from her role at the FA in June, citing frustration "at the lack of progress for BAME coaches".
She said: "This is a fundamental moment for the FA - the national governing body of our game, whose strapline says it's football for everyone.
"Well, it's not. My really strongly held view is something has to change."
'It has to be time for a change'
The FA apologised on Wednesday for racially discriminatory remarks made by Sampson to Eniola Aluko in 2014 and to her Chelsea and England team-mate Drew Spence in 2015, as a reopened investigation into their complaints was published.
An independent barrister ruled that the Welshman made unacceptable "ill-judged attempts at humour" on two occasions to Aluko and Spence.
The governing body was labelled "shambolic" by one MP for its handling of Aluko's case.
Ashworth appeared at the inquiry alongside chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn, as well as human resources director Rachel Brace.
Asked about his position, Rabbatts said: "I think it's untenable. He's been there since 2012. These issues have been raised - the lack of diversity, the issues of Mark Sampson, the matter of Eni - these have all happened.
"I read today he's now leading the search for Sampson's replacement. So when the FA say things are going to change - what is going to change?
"When you talk about leadership in organisations, when people talk about bringing culture, I've heard people argue there has to be root-and-branch reform. Who is going to lead that? It can't be the leadership that is there."
More to follow.
Source: bbc.com
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