PREMIER League chairman Richard Scudamore has called on the Government to do more to improve fitness levels for our youngsters. Scudamore insists it is not just the role of the Premiership to provide substantial investment in youth sport.

By Derek Davis

PREMIER League chairman Richard Scudamore has called on the Government to do more to improve fitness levels for our youngsters.

Scudamore insists it is not just the role of the Premiership to provide substantial investment in youth sport.

The Premier League handed out £124million to charities, grassroots sport and the Football League, the same amount as its entire turnover of 10 years ago.

Scudamore said: “Investment in youth development by professional clubs in this country is essential.

“Investment in improved coaching is also essential to make sure what raw talent that is out there is absolutely developed.

“It is also incumbent upon the Government to invest in grassroots sport. We don't take sport half as seriously in this country as we should.

“There is not enough educational time given to sport. In Australia for example, they finish school at 3pm and have mandatory hour to 90 minutes of sport every day.

“If we did the same we would produce more athletes and if we did then some of those would be better footballers.

“While the Premier League is responsible for lots of things it is not responsible for running the country or for that level of investment.

“When we have a better attitude towards sports investment at grassroots and we keep on inventing in coaching and talent and Academies, which Ipswich do very well, then that is when we make sure that local talent is captured.

“Only then will we see the reversal in the trend towards investing in foreign talent.”

Speaking at an Ipswich Town network meeting at Portman Road Scudamore told guests that around 2.2billion viewers watch Premier League matches over the course of a season.