Andrew Hardwick left & Jonathan Hollands

Today's football stars are to train to be future football managers at Warwick Business School (part of the University of Warwick). Warwick Business School has been commissioned by The Footballers' Further Education & Vocational Training Society Ltd (a body funded by The Professional Footballers Association), 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.

Warwick Business School are marking the first day of the new programme with a special press event at 10am Friday 17th May in Warwick Business Schools' new building on Scarman Road. When press will have an opportunity to talk to the first players on the course.

Andrew Hardwick of Warwick Business School 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 by Warwick Business School's Dr Susan Bridgewater, 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.

PFA Chief executive Gordon Taylor said "The role of the modern football club manager has changed considerably - the high profile nature of the industry now requires that players considering a career in football management will need high quality management training"

LMA 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."

Football Association Technical Director Howard Wilkinson said: "Football is investing heavily in coaching and playing skills so that we can match the rest of the world. We are looking to take management skills into the boardroom and bootroom to create a similar revolution."

Andrew Hardwick left & Jonathan Hollands

Warwick Business School

Andrew Hardwick, Tel: 024 7652 2935
Mobile: 07947 691917
andrew.hardwick@wbs.ac.uk
Sue Bridgwater, Tel: 024 7652 4341
email: sue.bridgewater@wbs.ac.uk
WBS Communications Office 024 7652 4306

University of Warwick

Peter Dunn, Press Officer, Tel: 024 76 523708
mobile 07767 655860

PFA contact

Micky Burns, Tel: 0161 236 0637
email: Mburns@thepfa.co.uk
LMA Contact

John Barnwell, Tel:01926 411884

Mobile: 07831 690190