**Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein believes England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup is still very much alive despite a series of “own goals.”**England and the nine other candidates vying to stage the 2018 or 2022 events will be officially introduced to Fifa ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw.
David Beckham and Football Association chief Lord Triesman have been leading the bid, but Dein has also been active.
“There’s a year to go,” Dein told BBC Sport. “We still have a great chance.”
While Beckham has brought plenty of glitz to England’s bid, Dein could yet to play a key role in helping to deliver vital Fifa executive committee votes, despite not having an official role at present.
Last month Dein, who has a network of worldwide contacts, travelled to Nigeria for the Under-17 World Cup - a competition where six Fifa executive members were in attendance - following an invitation from Fifa and Confederation of African Football Amos Adamu.
And Dein, who has been attending the Soccerex conference in South Africa, signalled that he would be willing to take on a more active role if asked by the Football Association.
“Talks are ongoing and I’m ready to help my country if called upon to do so,” said Dein, who was a director of Arsenal for more than 20 years.
“There are they are still a lot of goals to score against the opposition”
Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein
England’s 2018 bid has suffered with its public relations and internal feuding at board level, hence Dein’s reference to “own goals.”
The 2018 bid team has been criticised for purchasing luxury handbags, one for the wife or partner of each of the 24 Fifa voters, with Warner returning the gift, describing his wife as “sacrosanct”.
And Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards resigned from the board just weeks after six other board members stood down, while Karen Brady, one of those to quit her post, has stated the bid could be derailed by “infighting”.
“What’s going on is heavy politics and that needs to be resolved,” said Dein, who in the past has been on the Football Association’s main board as well its international committee.
"It’s not an easy situation. There have been a lot of changes and sadly a few own goals scored.
"It’s important we start rowing to the same beat, but there are still a lot of goals to score against the opposition.
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"We know that on merit England should stage the 2018 event. England hasn’t had it since 1966, but as we showed with Euro 1996 we’d put on a great show.
“If given the opportunity, England would put on a fantastic World Cup. There are great stadiums and by 2018 they’d be even better.”
The 10 bid teams for the next two finals will screen a four-minute promotional film at a Western Cape government residence, before making opening pitches.
Fifa’s 24-member ruling executive will choose the hosts next December.
Beckham will be at Friday’s draw despite the recent death of his 83-year-old grandfather.
“My granddad had been not well for quite a few months but it’s something that when it happens, nothing can prepare you for it,” said Beckham, who added that his grandfather would have wanted him to stay on to help the 2018 bid.
"If I had decided to go home, I know what he was like - he was an East End strong person.
“He would have shouted at me for leaving this because he was passionate about his country, he fought for his country and I know how proud he was of me. He would have wanted me to stay.”