LMA seeks Grant answers

Wilkinson wants clarification on new Chelsea boss

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 24th September 2007

grant avram

Grant: Qualification in doubt

"If BA are going to employ a pilot, they don't give him the job and then ask 'by the way do you have a pilot's license?'"

LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson
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Howard Wilkinson has confirmed that the League Managers' Association is looking into Avram Grant's position as Chelsea manager.

Some reports have claimed the Israeli does not have the necessary Uefa coaching qualifications needed to take charge of a Premier League club.

Wilkinson admits the LMA do not know at this point whether Grant is qualified, and he also doubts whether the Premier League has all the facts.

But the LMA chairman has stressed that Grant must provide the same proof as any other Premier League boss if he is to stay in his job.

"Speaking with my LMA hat on, all I can do is reiterate that we are in favour of coach education and preparation, and therefore mandatory qualifications," Wilkinson told Sky Sports News.

"At the moment it is very difficult to comment on the Avram Grant situation, because the Premier League have not clarified this situation vis-a-vis him and vis-a-vis Chelsea.

Maintaining standards

"In other words, I am led to believe that the Premier League at this moment do not have precise details of what he has and has not got.

"It is not one of the LMA's objectives to stop people working but what we do stand for is education, preparation and standards.

"There are a number of ways in which Avram Grant could qualify to be a manager in the Premier League, but until we know the facts, in terms of his coach education history, it is impossible to comment with any accuracy."

Time and energy

Wilkinson added that clubs must take more responsibility for checking out the credentials of the managers they appoint.

He explained: "If BA are going to employ a pilot, they don't give him the job and then ask 'by the way do you have a pilot's license?'

"It would help if these big corporations spent a bit of time and energy determining these sorts of factors first."