FA Commission: Greg Dyke warns of bleak future if proposals fail

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke warns that failure to adopt his plans to improve English football could lead to a bleak future for homegrown talent.

Dyke's proposals, which include a new tier within the Football League to accommodate Premier League B teams, have provoked lots of criticism.

But he told BBC Sport: "It's not enough to say we will do nothing."

His commission, he said, had thrown up analysis that was "pretty damning of the future for English football".

At the heart of the FA commission's four-point plan is the creation of a new tier within the Football League to accommodate Premier League B teams.

There is also a call for a ban on non-European Union players outside of the top-flight, the development of "strategic loan partnerships" between clubs, as well as a reduction in non-homegrown players in Premier League squads.

According to the review, only 32% of starters qualified to play for England in the 2012-13 Premier League season, compared to 69% 20 years ago.

The commission's proposals set an "ambitious but realistic" target of increasing the number of English players in the Premier League to 45% by 2022.

"If we don't arrest the decline, you feel quite bleak about the future of English football," said Dyke.

"You'll have very a good league, but it's not about English football."

Dyke claims he has had backing from the top clubs for his plan to introduce B teams - even if the leagues do not like it.

He said teams including Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City were enthusiastic about the proposal and believes club power can win the day even though the Premier League refused to be part of his commission.

England manager Roy Hodgson welcomed the proposals, but critics, such as Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony, believe the B team plan is unworkable.

Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey says the commission's report "may not contain a solution that is acceptable at the current time".

Dyke added: "They're difficult proposals and you can't possibly be sure people are going to buy into them, but what else are you going to buy into?"

The FA commission was made up of Dyke, Hodgson, former England managers Glenn Hoddle and Howard Wilkinson, plus ex-England internationals Rio Ferdinand and Danny Mills.

Football League chairman Greg Clarke, Professional Footballers' Association chairman Ritchie Humphreys, FA vice-chairman Roger Burden and Crewe Alexandra's director of football Dario Gradi were also part of the 10-man commission.

It sought contributions from more than 650 people across all levels of the sport in England and abroad.

Although a statement from the Football Conference said they were not "in any consulted" and neither "were their views sought directly or indirectly".

Further proposals to improve the grassroots game in England will follow in the autumn. No firm date has been given for a final decision.

Listen to the podcast of Danny Mills and Steve Claridge debating the plan on BBC Radio 5 live here.