Tuesday 16 December 2014 15:08, UK
Club England managing director Adrian Bevington has announced he is to leave the Football Association at the end of December after 17 years with the national governing body.
Bevington has been managing director of Club England for the past four years, having joined the FA in 1997 and rising to Group Director of Communications in 2004.
Additionally, in 2011, the 43-year-old also resumed executive responsibility for FA Group Communications.
He said: “It has been a privilege to work for the FA, but after almost two decades I want a new challenge.
“I have been considering my departure for some time and discussed this with chairman Greg Dyke recently. I am grateful to Greg and the FA board for their support over the years and in agreeing to my departure at the end of the month.
“The FA has provided me with tremendous experience and I look forward to drawing on this in the future.
“While it is a disappointment to leave without England winning a major trophy, I am convinced the foundations for success are now in place.
I know that everybody who has worked with him (Bevington) over the past 17 years will miss him, and on behalf of the Football Association I would like to wish him every success in the future.
“A huge part of my working life has been spent at the FA and I have worked with so many wonderful people in the industry, both domestically and internationally. I would like to thank everybody who has helped me over the years.”
Dyke added: “I’d like to thank Adrian for his contribution and loyalty over almost 17 years at the FA.
“His experience and knowledge have been invaluable at so many levels, but he has made clear he is at a time in his life where he is ready to move on.
"I know that everybody who has worked with him over the past 17 years will miss him, and on behalf of the Football Association I would like to wish him every success in the future.”
Bevington has been a lifelong fan of his hometown football club Middlesbrough, where he worked in the media team before joining the FA.
As one of the longest serving officials of the sport's governing bodies, he has worked at the FA with nine England managers - Glenn Hoddle, Howard Wilkinson, Kevin Keegan, Peter Taylor, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello, Stuart Pearce and Roy Hodgson.
