• Premier League

Premier League offers backing to the FA

FA chairman Greg Dyke has set England the task of winning the 2022 World Cup © PA Photos

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Premier League clubs are set to work with the FA to help improve the development of English players.

The move follows FA chairman Greg Dyke's comments that the Premier League is being starved of English talent, and the national team suffering as a consequence.

The chairmen of all 20 Premier League clubs met with Dyke on Thursday to discuss the issue, agreeing to assist the FA with the proposal.

Anthony Fry, chairman of the Premier League, said: "It is evident from discussions with the clubs that there is a strong desire to see greater numbers of England qualified players coming through their academy systems that are capable of performing at both Premier League and international standard.

"There is no doubt around the Premier League table as to the benefits of a national set-up that is thriving and performing well.

"That is why the Premier League clubs, board and executive all signed up to contributing to the process of debate initiated by Greg and helping to identify any appropriate outcomes that will serve to improve standards and delivery in respect of player development.

"The Premier League clubs, board and executive will all contribute their expertise, knowledge and understanding of the issues and challenges in regard to producing England-qualified talent who are of the requisite quality to play both at Premier League and international level."

Dyke said: "The intention of my speech regarding the development and progression of English players was to discover why there are fewer and fewer English players at the top level, and the point of any debate is to find solutions.

"I am very keen that the commission work with everyone in football and particularly the Premier League, both as an organisation and its individual member clubs. Clearly they have a lot to contribute to the process.

"I am pleased that the Premier League clubs, board and executive all want to contribute to the commission I am setting up. There is a great deal of knowledge there and I am sure we will be able to find some very concrete ways of improving the pool of talent available to England managers."

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