FORMER Football Association executive director David Davies has called on the England management and leading clubs to 'reach a long-term deal' in order to avoid rows over the release of players for international matches.
Injuries have led to the withdrawal of many of England's first-choice players ahead of tomorrow's friendly against Germany, with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard yesterday joining a list that also includes Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole.
The situation took a fresh twist on Sunday when England coach Fabio Capello asked Liverpool midfielder Gerrard to make a lengthy round trip from the north-west to Hertfordshire to have his injury assessed by England physiotherapist Gary Lewin.
Capello's demand appears to signal a hardening of England's stance on player withdrawals, and has led to fears of fresh club-versus-country disputes with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez reportedly unhappy at the move.
However, Davies insists the situation is an age-old problem, one that will continue as long as the powers-that-be fail to reach an accord.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's one of the oldest rows and it goes back many years to when I was a BBC reporter travelling with the England team under Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor.
"The same arguments were being waged. In my time inside the FA we reached understandings - albeit unofficial understandings - with the managers, and we didn't have quite as many rows some people sometimes suggest.
"The reality is that until and unless the clubs and the FA reach a long-term deal and understanding on an issue like this, this sort of situation will continue."
Davies added that England would be well advised to follow the model of this week's opponents.
"I was in Berlin a few days ago in a hotel where the German team were gathering for the game with England," he continued. "They have an understanding with their top clubs and the DFB, the equivalent of the FA over there, that even if players are not fit they do join up with the squad to show support to the other players."
Davies, who served as acting chief executive of the FA after the departure of Graham Kelly in 1998, also insisted that rows between England and clubs was counter-productive, and called on flexibility from all parties.
"You can have a row with this manager or that manager, but you need if you're the [England] coach to have a long-term relationship with that manager, particularly if he has a significant number of your players, and that's why there has to be some give and take," he said.
"There also has to be some leadership from the Premier League and the FA to address this."
He added: "The [club] managers, particularly with competitive games, are overwhelmingly helpful. The issue comes around with friendly games."
The situation took a fresh twist on Sunday when England coach Fabio Capello asked Liverpool midfielder Gerrard to make a lengthy round trip from the north-west to Hertfordshire to have his injury assessed by England physiotherapist Gary Lewin.
Capello's demand appears to signal a hardening of England's stance on player withdrawals, and has led to fears of fresh club-versus-country disputes with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez reportedly unhappy at the move.
However, Davies insists the situation is an age-old problem, one that will continue as long as the powers-that-be fail to reach an accord.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's one of the oldest rows and it goes back many years to when I was a BBC reporter travelling with the England team under Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor.
"The same arguments were being waged. In my time inside the FA we reached understandings - albeit unofficial understandings - with the managers, and we didn't have quite as many rows some people sometimes suggest.
"The reality is that until and unless the clubs and the FA reach a long-term deal and understanding on an issue like this, this sort of situation will continue."
Davies added that England would be well advised to follow the model of this week's opponents.
"I was in Berlin a few days ago in a hotel where the German team were gathering for the game with England," he continued. "They have an understanding with their top clubs and the DFB, the equivalent of the FA over there, that even if players are not fit they do join up with the squad to show support to the other players."
Davies, who served as acting chief executive of the FA after the departure of Graham Kelly in 1998, also insisted that rows between England and clubs was counter-productive, and called on flexibility from all parties.
"You can have a row with this manager or that manager, but you need if you're the [England] coach to have a long-term relationship with that manager, particularly if he has a significant number of your players, and that's why there has to be some give and take," he said.
"There also has to be some leadership from the Premier League and the FA to address this."
He added: "The [club] managers, particularly with competitive games, are overwhelmingly helpful. The issue comes around with friendly games."
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