LMA question Grant's qualifications
Monday, 24 Sep 2007 22:26
Avram Grant's sudden elevation has attracted the LMA's attention
The League Managers' Association (LMA) has announced its doubts over the eligibility of Avram Grant to take over the manager's role at
Chelsea on a full-time basis.
The union's chairman Howard Wilkinson claimed it was unclear whether the Israeli had the necessary qualifications to remain at the Stamford Bridge helm beyond a 12-week period.
"It is not one of the LMA's objectives to stop people working but what we do stand for is education, preparation and standards," the former Leeds boss said.
"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."
Under Premier League rules all managers must have obtained the Uefa Pro Licence or its equivalent if they wish to stay on for longer than 12 weeks.
In the past the rule has been bent to accommodate exceptional circumstances, such as the ill-health of then-Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder or Gareth Southgate's immediate promotion from the playing staff at
Middlesbrough, but Grant's case is unlikely to attract such dispensation should he fall foul of the rules.
The 52-year-old has an extensive coaching career which has taken in top clubs and the national team job in his homeland, but it is believed he has only formally reached Uefa's A ranking.
"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?'," asked Wilkinson.
"It would help if these big corporations spent a bit of time and energy determining these sorts of factors first."