Allardyce attacks Brooking

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce today said the League Managers Association had complained to the Football Association about Trevor Brooking's appointment as director of football development.

Allardyce says he is "outraged" by the appointment of an "unqualified" Brooking, who has been taken on purely because he is a "media-friendly face".

"I feel very strongly - and all the other managers I have spoken to feel the same - that he is not qualified to be doing the job he has just started as director of football development for the FA," Allardyce said today.

"He hasn't got the UEFA Pro Licence or the UEFA Pro Licence Diploma, qualifications that every coach, manager and director of football across Europe is required to have.

"Like many I have spent a lot of time and money getting qualified, only for the FA to appoint someone completely unqualified.

"The League Managers Association has made representations to the FA about it. Needless to say, there has not been an adequate response.

"All the FA has said is that Trevor's job is split into three roles and that the technical side is only a third of his mandate.

"The FA might consider that an explanation, but I consider it an even greater outrage."