Patrick Carter named as successor to chair of Sport England

Patrick Carter, the man best known for his work on the feasibility of the National Stadium and the Manchester Commonwealth Games, has been appointed to chair Sport England. Carter will take over from acting chair Tessa Sanderson with immediate effect.

Although not from a sporting background, Carter recently headed up enquiries into the finances of the Wembley Stadium proposal, and the Manchester Games. The reports were instrumental in gaining support for additional funding for the schemes.

The appointment of a chair from the business world, rather than a well-known sports personality, raises a number of issues surrounding the future direction of Sport England. It suggests a tougher approach in promoting sport, and a recognition of the need to provide credible and supported arguments in securing funding and support in government.

Carter said, 'My experience with the FA, Sport England and the organisers of the Commonwealth Games has given me some insight into the way sport operates. That work has demonstrated that where I can build a substantial and sound argument for resources, the government is prepared to listen.'

The decision may not be universally popular, due to Carter's close links with government, and fears exist that he may be too easily influenced by government and not champion the cause of sport effectively.

His term is set to run for three years and he is expected to oversee a substantial programme of change, as the organisation restructures and refocuses its operations, moving from a role as a service provider to that of an investor and overseer.

Both Tessa Jowell, secretary of state for the DCMS and sports minister Richard Caborn welcomed Carter's appointment, Caborn saying, 'there needs to be some radical reorganisation and Patrick Carter has all the right skills to deliver what is going to be a new structure in sport across the UK.'