IF BURNLEY FC's new chief executive thinks he has it tough trying to solve Turf Moor's off-field crisis, he should take a walk down Soho Square!

Dave Edmundson is charged with turning things around for Burnley in the eye of the financial storm.

FA chief executive Mark Palios, meanwhile, is suffering the fall-out of a game in nuclear meltdown.

Since easing himself into the plush new office as Adam Crozier's replacement, major problems have landed on his desk with alarming regularity.

Palios has a reputation for listening carefully before taking action, no knee jerk reaction from the former Tranmere and Crewe player.

But he is fully aware what has happened in recent weeks is totally unacceptable and threatening the image of the game.

Many feel there has been too much of a delay in dealing with the Rio Ferdinand situation.

A recent statement issued by the FA referred to a "failure or refusal by the player to submit to drug testing as required by a competent official". So why the delay in taking action?

Does the FA first have to clear the decision with the world governing body FIFA before the player is notified?

Presumably it would be too embarrassing if the penalty was thrown out by FIFA as being either too lenient or too severe.

Or are they waiting for United to respond to the charge?

Disciplinary action has at least been enforced after the Old Trafford fiasco between Man United and Arsenal.

Plenty of history between these two sides and maybe that was the reason for the excessive punishments meted out to Arsenal - unless you are Alex Ferguson, of course!

After these two highly controversial incidents Palios may have felt he had breathing space to start moving forward, but alas not a bit of it.

Several other highly controversial situations have come to his attention.

Take Leeds striker Alan Smith, who threw a plastic bottle and hit the sister of one of his best mates in an amazing piece of skill.

The FA unfortunately cannot put a veil over this incident as a precedent was set when Liverpool's Jamie Carragher was fined two weeks wages and suffered a three match ban after throwing a pound coin at Arsenal fans in an FA Cup match two seasons ago.

Then there's former Burnley striker Ian Wright, who was allegedly racially abused after celebrating son Shaun's goal for Man City at Loftus Road.

QPR took immediate action, but a spokesperson for the Lets Kick Racism out of Football campaign said: "There are still many clubs where a blind eye is turned to racial abuse and police responses are simply inadequate."

Will the FA now step in?

Incidents on the touchline have also fuelled the fire, with managers Harry Redknapp and Alex Ferguson recently being summoned to the stands while Blackburn's Graeme Souness has had spats with Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier and Southampton coach Dennis Rofe.

Palios was often described as a journeyman footballer before making his mark in the world of finance and consultancy.

After spending 12 years at Price Waterhouse Coopers, he joined the FA in July.

With his footballing background and business acumen, he seemed the ideal choice for this highly prestigious position.

I am sure there will come a time when he will smile at his demanding introduction to the job.