Bevan savages FA over Burton bungling

Richard Bevan today attacked the Football Association for dragging its heels over the proposed National Football Centre at Burton-on-Trent.

Preparations for the centre began in 2001, and although the FA continue to insist it will be ready by 2010, League Manager's Association chief executive Bevan believes insufficient attention has been paid to the project.

FA chairman Lord Triesman used his speech at Tuesday's Leaders In Football Summit to warn clubs about excessive debt and to call for a discussion about the number of foreign players in the Premier League.

But Bevan believes Triesman missed a vital opportunity, and will seek talks to raise his worries. He said: "Lord Triesman should have focused more on actions than on PR. We want to see very clear action on the development of the National Football Centre.

"We are not happy that the Centre is not being promoted. We will be communicating with the FA.

"Thy are sorting out the people to run the bid for the World Cup in 2018, but where are the people to run the National Academy? These are the people they should be finding."

Bevan is concerned that stars like Theo Walcott will not be unearthed if the centre is not open in time. He added: "The development of young players in this country has been talked about since 2002, and we need stronger and quicker action to ensure the funds go to the right place."

In June, the FA gave their approval for the Centre to be based at Burton, and an FA spokesman said: "The National Football Centre was one of the key objectives outlined in the Strategic Vision we outlined this year."