Mystery at the Wilts FA

6:00am Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Local

Mike Benson, right Mike Benson, right

MYSTERY surrounds the position of Wiltshire FA county secretary Mike Benson.

The Swindon Advertiser understands that 78-year-old Benson has been on leave from his position for several weeks.

Exactly why the Wiltshire County Football Association stalwart is currently absent from his post is unclear.

No officials from the Wiltshire FA were prepared to comment on the matter while chairman Richard Gardiner could not be contacted yesterday.

The Football Association in London also refused to comment further than saying it was a “county FA matter”.

Benson himself insisted he was on “self-imposed suspended leave” citing the pressures of the job as the reason for his absence.

“I have been on suspended leave imposed by myself,” said Benson.

“I spoke to my chairman and he advised me to take some time off so that is what I did.

“It is a pressurised job and it takes it out of you.

“I have been stressed with the job for years now and my doctor also advised me to take time off.

“I am hoping to be back soon.”

The Advertiser has spoken to other league officials throughout Wiltshire and they revealed they had been unable to contact Benson or establish the reason for his absence.

One of our sources said: “We do not know what is going on.

“We have been unable to contact Mike Benson at the Wiltshire FA offices and nobody there is able to confirm why he is not around.

“I’ve heard various things such as he is on suspended leave, away on holiday or on gardening leave but I really don’t know what to believe.”

Comments(3)

Anoldgreymoonraker says...
7:39am Wed 10 Oct 12

78 year old can't do his job then he should retire n get someone younger in .

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TheBlackHand says...
9:05am Wed 10 Oct 12

Anoldgreymoonraker wrote:
78 year old can't do his job then he should retire n get someone younger in .
What and give up all the perks that go with it?

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dabombdiggy says...
1:52pm Wed 10 Oct 12

Guys,

I dont think you realise how much Mr Benson has actually contributed to our local game and dismissal of a stress related abnsence is simply a little bigoted and narrow-minded.

Despite the much publicised St George's park opening and Wembley debts, funding has been cut at a grass roots level despite any mutterings from Trevor Brooking.

Mr Benson has actually fought these cuts to prevent any damage to our local game and Wiltshire youth's standards is consistently of a high standard in comparison to its peers whether or not Swindon see any benefit of this.

I know personally that in his 50 year association with our county that we have made great strides from his refereeing, playing and direction across this period.

It is the mindless lot at FA headquarters that is causing this stress rather than at a county level.

They worry more about tweets than grass roots I am afraid.

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