ENGLAND 2018 World Cup bid leaders have appointed Karren Brady and Paul Elliott as new board members and will target tonight's match at Wembley in an effort to get the campaign back on track.
Brady is former managing director of Birmingham and currently filming for the new BBC series of The Apprentice, while Elliott, the former Celtic and Chelsea defender, has been a leading light in campaigning against racism in football. They replace B
aroness Amos who steps down from the board after being appointed as British High Commissioner to Australia, one of England's rivals for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. England 2018 chairman Lord Triesman said: "Karren's record in both football and in business, speaks for itself and the board shares my belief that she will make a tremendous contribution to the England 2018 World Cup bid.
"Paul's experience as a professional footballer as well as a campaigner for grassroots football, means he is as highly regarded in the corridors of Uefa and Fifa as he is on playing fields around the country."
Meanwhile, England 2018 will try to address criticism of the bid by Fifa vice-president Jack Warner last week by having a noticeable presence at tonight's World Cup qualifier against Belarus at Wembley.
More than 25,000 fans will be asked to hold up cards during the national anthems to create a giant England 2018 banner in the South Stand, flanked by a St George's Flag at either end of the pitch.
Brady said: "Having spent so many years working in football I am very aware how much a World Cup in England would mean to the public and I am extremely pleased to be joining England 2018 as a non-executive director.
"I feel my background in football, business and the media gives me a unique position which will enable me to create a strong link between business and football."
Elliott will also chair the England 2018 inclusivity advisory group – a panel to promote "inclusivity" from all sections of society and communities.
Elliot, who is a special advisor for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "I am proud to be invited to play a part in the bid and to be given the chance to spread the England 2018 message across the country and the world.
"England's multi-cultural society means there will be a 'home' welcome for every competing nation and the work we do now to integrate these communities into the process will be invaluable."
