Whelan wants radical changes

27 June 2011 10:59
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan claims the strength of the Premier League has weakened the national side and wants a shake-up at grass-roots level.[LNB] England Under-21s' recent early exit from the European Championship in Denmark was just the latest in a line of incidences which have highlighted the difference in standards between English football and some of its counterparts.[LNB]Last year's woeful World Cup display in South Africa and Manchester United's humbling by Barcelona in May's Champions League final are others.[LNB]And Whelan has supported the views of Gareth Southgate, the Football Association's head of elite development, after he said changes were necessary.[LNB]"People will say there are too many foreign players playing over here, and there's got to be some truth in that," the Latics chairman told the Wigan Evening Post.[LNB]"There needs to be changes at grass-roots level - that would help, there's no question.[LNB]"We desperately need more youngsters to be playing in the Premier League, but it's not easy.[LNB]"It seems to be the stronger the Premier League, the weaker the England team is - and that simply has to change."

Source: Team_Talk