Wigan chairman Dave Whelan calls for changes in grass-roots coaching in England

Dave Whelan (Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has added his voice to the growing calls for fundamental changes in grass-roots football coaching in England.

The recent disappointing performances of the country’s national teams at last summer’s World Cup and at this summer’s European Under-21 Championships, combined with the ever-decreasing number of Englishmen plying their trade in the Premier League, have pushed youth coaching back to the very top of the FA agenda.

Whelan subscribes to the view that there are too many foreigners in England’s top flight, but believes youth coaching must be improved to make it possible for more domestic players to be introduced without diluting the overall level of talent in the division.

“People will say there are too many foreign players playing over here, and there’s got to be some truth in that,” he told the Wigan Evening Post.

“There needs to be changes at grass-roots level – that would help, there’s no question.

“We desperately need more youngsters to be playing in the Premier League, but it’s not easy.”

Whelan considers the national team’s failings to be absurd in light of the strength of the club game in England, and says the current situation cannot continue.

“It seems to be the stronger the Premier League, the weaker the England team is – and that simply has to change,” he added.