After being defeated by his brother in his bid to become leader of the Labour Party and then stepping down from front-bench politics, David Miliband has been looking around for a new job and it would appear this new career will be within another competitive arena away from the House of Commons as it emerged this week he is in discussions with Sunderland Football Club.The Premier League club revealed on Wednesday that it was in talks with Mr Miliband, who is an Arsenal supporter, over a non-executive post thought to be that of vice-chairman.
"We're always challenging ourselves to find new ways to grow and develop the club and to make it stronger," the club's chairman Niall Quinn said in a statement. "We have had talks with David Miliband about a non-executive role at the club but have nothing further to report at the moment."
But the move is not as farfetched as it could have first appeared as Mr Miliband, a former Foreign Secretary, has been the Member of Parliament for South Shields since 2001 and the constituency is less than 10 miles north of where Sunderland play their home matches at the Stadium of Light.
It is understood the post “would focus on international and community work” and would be subject to clearance by a parliamentary committee.
Mr Miliband would not be the first politician to take up a prominent role in football – the former Home and Defence secretary John Reid is now chairman of Celtic Football Club across the border in Scotland, while former Tory Party chairman Lord Mawhinney became chairman of the Football League.
But the award for best comment in reaction to a news story goes to Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, who when asked about this in a press conference responded: “I did ask for a left-winger. If it comes off, then fantastic”.
