Former Football Association technical director Howard Wilkinson has warned the appointment of Fabio Capello will not solve the long-term problems facing football in England.

Wilkinson, 64, chairman of the League Managers' Association, spoke recently about the need to press ahead with plans for a national football centre in Burton and long-term investment in the development of players and coaches for  the future.

Wilkinson is in no doubt about Capello's calibre as a coach but is insistent that the Italian's appointment as Steve McClaren's successor should not mask other issues.

"The number of players we are producing is reducing year on year," Wilkinson told the Yorkshire Post. "If we don't deal with the long term, as well as the short term, the problems will continue.

"My fear is that we will think the 'quick fix' will be the long-term fix. Surely, by now, we realise it won't."

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley fears England will never turn to a homegrown manager again.

Curbishley, himself a contender for the post in recent years, believes there is no chance of an Englishman being seriously considered for the post so long as the Premier League's top four clubs continue to appoint non-English managers.

"I don't believe we will ever give the job to anybody from England again," he said. "The FA have made the position redundant as far as an English manager is concerned. A proud tradition may well have come to an end.

"Trevor Brooking has indicated as much, even though plenty has been said about eventually promoting Stuart Pearce from his duties with the under-21 side."

Curbishley told the Daily Express: "Until a manager becomes in charge of a top-four side, he just won't get the vital experience that he so desperately needs."

He added: "Champions League football in this country is contested by men who are not English, so you tell me how an English manager gets the necessary experience to step into an international job."