Warwick Business School (WBS) has been commissioned by The Footballers' Further Education & Vocational Training Society Ltd, the FA Premier League, the Football League, the FA and The League Managers Association to provide a training programme to develop the management skills of footballers who want to become football managers.

Andrew Hardwick of WBS said: "We are excited about this venture, which comes in a season in which many managers have lost their jobs. These people are great footballers. They can already access training and support in coaching skills but our programme will provide them with the expertise in management and business that they will need to succeed as football managers."

This need for business training is backed by recent research conducted by Dr Susan Bridgewater of WBS, which confirms the stresses on managers and the benefits of more formal business training. In an industry that has a high public profile, commercial sponsorship considerations and international business operations, it is imperative that managers can complement football experience with leading edge management skills and understanding.

League Managers Association Chief Executive John Barnwell, believes that players appointed to run clubs need time to develop a good understanding of the pressures involved in management, he said: "It is extremely difficult to make this move without formal training and not one which I would recommend. All future managers should have advanced coaching licences and go through this management course to prepare them for a very difficult profession."