Former Town chairman David Sheepshanks is to move to a new role at St George’s Park, the FA’s National Football Centre at Burton.

Sheepshanks has been chairman at St George's Park since it opened in 2012, having led and overseen its development and opening, but will now take on a role chairing an advisory board supplementing an executive-led board.

The FA’s chief executive officer Martin Glenn said: “It is testament to the good work done by David and the other board members that this transition can happen only several years into the life of the project.

“We are delighted that David has accepted the role as chairman of an advisory board whose role it will be to provide challenge to the management team as they develop their plans for the future of St George’s Park.

“It is anticipated that this advisory board will also consist of a number of eminent people from both football and sport so that St George’s Park measures itself against the best of sport in the UK and the world.

“Let’s not forget the national football centre project had been mothballed for several years when in 2008 David and his new board took it on, researched and ultimately completely revised the business plan.

“Delivered on time and on budget for the long term benefit of English football, St George’s Park is now one of the top facilities of its kind anywhere in the world.

“Personally I have been hugely impressed with the site and want to thank all of the board for their terrific work in making the project a reality and creating what has become a source of great pride to the FA.”

Sheepshanks added: “It has been an enormous privilege to have led a team of such brilliant people involved in the different stages of development, design, construction, and for the last three years, operating St George’s Park.

“I would like to thank all of them and the FA board for their support throughout. It is now running exceptionally well so everyone involved can be rightly proud of their achievements.

"St George’s Park will forever remain a passion for me and I will continue to do what I can to assist Martin Glenn and his team there in their quest to maximise its potential.”

Meanwhile, Harry Wright, like his father Richard a keeper, has signed a professional deal with the Blues having turned 17 today.

Wright junior rejoined the Town academy in the summer having previously been with Manchester City's youth set-up.

Photo: Action Images

cats_whiskers added 17:54 - Nov 3 Dear Mr Sheepshanks Please put in an offer of a £1 to buy back our club back and rescue us fans of this "Evans disease" and also the suffering we had from the torture of Simon Clegg's tenure, this club is currently dying from, And we will try to forgive you for selling as we can all make silly mistakes and your's was one big clanger.
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SouperJim added 17:58 - Nov 3 You're assuming Sheepshanks can afford the £6m a year it costs to keep us afloat then? But yeah, Marcus Evans, what a terrible guy.
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cats_whiskers added 18:07 - Nov 3 It's all tongue in cheek... Sheepshanks could have sold long before as was touted He certainly was responsible for us creating that debt and going into administration But at least we had a face to relate to and not some recluse
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Marcus added 18:56 - Nov 3 I wish we could combine Sheepshanks' presence and personality with Evans money and financial clout. However I must say the current chief exec has kept himself off the radar to the extent we just about all agree he's doing his job right - he's obviously better at his job than Clegg is but he also has a much more savvy manager he's working with. Since McCarthy joined we've moved from a club in a nosedive to one that's become ambitiously mediocre, while as fans we all want success there is a quiet acceptance that we're better than we were combined with a quiet fear that a change could mean a change for the worse. Both Sheepshanks and Evans (and the Cobbolds) knew that change has to happen only when it's absolutely desperately needed. It's the foundation of the club - we don't change quickly. We trust and believe in the man in charge. If anything I think Sheepshanks was a bit too prone to fan pressure and it took Evans a while to realise he needs to sound out those in the know before hiring (such as calling their former chairman). Both Sheepshanks and Evans have made big mistakes - I don't need to list them - however it's also clear that both have become better from the experience. They're both professional businessmen. While Sheepshanks has more obvious blue tinted glasses I'm happy with either of them running the club and regret Sheepshanks is no longer involved.

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peewee added 19:14 - Nov 3 Sheepshanks was the reason why we are in the hole we are in. Business man that got greedy and only cares about his own money fact and once the ship started sinking he jumped. Evans keeps us afloat but it feels lately as if it's just to keep his UK tax bill down
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Westy added 19:24 - Nov 3 David Sheepshanks has had his critics, but I thought he was good for the Club. As with Jack Walker at Blackburn, first and foremost he was a fan - and still is.
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Hatman added 21:47 - Nov 3 David Sheepshanks was the man who put his faith in George Burley and their 5 year plan took us up. No - one bemoaned him then. Fantastic first Premier season, we probably all got a bit carried away and set our expectations too high too quickly. Confidence drained out of the team in our 2nd Premier season and despite a great post Christmas recovery, there were some fine, fine margins that took us down at the worst possible time what with the ITV Digital collapse and the introduction of transfer windows which totally changed the economics of football. These things were circumstances Sheepshanks had to adapt to as best as he humanly could and were not issues of his making. I maintain alot of respect for him and wish him well.

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Bert added 02:27 - Nov 4 Sheepshanks was a club chairman who understood the need to belong to something we identify with. Old fashioned in one sense but he gave us stability until a combination of bad luck and poor judgement became his downfall. He never hid from decisions but his on pitch speech will always be remembered for what it was - a disaster. Pity because he cared and basically was a decent man ....... for a Tory ! Oh I wish Evans would reveal himself if only to make us all feel that the owner shares our highs and lows rather than what's on the balance sheet. At the end of the day it's difficult to be critical of a man who has shelled out millions but regrettably is risk averse.

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brittaniaman added 09:00 - Nov 4 I have noticed that Sheepshanks still turns up at PR. when he can. even though he probably could have a choice from the premier league
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Seasider added 17:39 - Nov 4 Thought David Sheepshanks was a basically good chap.This old Etonian I believe,followed on from those other 'posh' Cobbolds Mr Patrick and Mr John,what a character he was;and maintained the family club tradition. I can recall him walking in through 'Churchmans' as it was then,and talking to us' peasants'.No side on him whatsoever. Has made the transfer from working with his brother making sauces I believe,in deepest Suffolk;to now being among the establishment of both the football league and FA holding high office. I believe Mr Evans would do well to get him back on board,perhaps he could become chair of the 12 1/2% of the Club that Evans does not own as he was previously?

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