FA looks for technical director

The Football Association is to relaunch its search for a new technical director after putting it on ice for a decade. English football chiefs want someone to head up operations at the FA's new national football centre in the Midlands who will report directly to Sir Trevor Brooking. Howard Wilkinson was the first, and only, permanent appointment to the position before leaving to manage Sunderland in 2002 and was replaced by Les Reed on a temporary basis until 2004. And, now building of the futuristic St George's Park centre of excellence for coaches in Burton is well under way, the FA believes it is the right time to return to its search for a technical director. Alex Horne, the FA's general secretary, said: "The role of technical director will be crucial as we continue to strive towards improving the technical ability and knowledge of our players and coaches both now and in the future." To land the job the FA wants a coach with a UEFA Pro Licence or the equivalent and is part of the FA's drive to raise the standards of football at both elite and grassroots level. The successful candidate will also work with Premier League and Football League representatives on the controversial new Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). The EPPP will rank club academies to determine their funding levels but has faced opposition from lower league clubs who fear they will be stripped of their best talent on the cheap.