England players tired? Cut out the playboy lifestyle then advises Bates

Richard Sutcliffe

KEN BATES has launched a blistering attack on England's top footballers following their World Cup failure and urged the Football Association to stick with Fabio Capello.

The Leeds United chairman insists the fault for the Three Lions' abject displays in South Africa lies with the players and not the manager.

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England crashed out in the second round and Bates believes the next generation of youngsters should be given a chance at the expense of the regulars who let the country down.

He said: "We have a knee-jerk reaction over Capello. I don't subscribe to that theory. Capello should be given a chance – and hopefully also English lessons.

"So many excuses were put out. 'The players were tired'. Tired? Leeds played 60 games last season and they weren't too tired to come from behind with 10 men to beat Bristol Rovers (on the last day) and get promoted.

"Tiredness is an excuse. Maybe if they cut down their playboy lifestyles that would help to give them better rest.

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"I think we should forget 2012 and get on with the World Cup in 2014. Let's start again and bring the kids in.

"If we take a few good hidings along the way between now and 2011 or 2012, so be it. But let's start building our international team around 23 and 24-year-olds.

"We need to tear up the existing sheet and start again with a clean sheet of paper."

Leeds chief Bates was also critical of the England players being allowed to fly their families out to South Africa during the World Cup.

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He said: "Do any other people bring their wives to work? Why the hell should English footballers do it? It is madness.

"What about the poor buggers in Afghanistan? Are they flown out there with their families and put up in luxury accommodation and first-class flights back? Of course not.

"The trouble is England in the old days were battling bulldogs. They were rough and tough because that is what England has been over the last 1,000 years.

"All of a sudden they are now molly-coddled little do-daas. It needs a clean-sweep from top to bottom."