Football League chairman Lord Brian Mawhinney has hit back at Sir Trevor Brook-ing's claim that the organisation is damaging the future of the England team.
Brooking, the Football Association's head of football development, had warned that the national side will fall into decline unless swift FA action is taken to overhaul the current coaching structures at grass-roots level.
Brooking is keen to over-haul the FA Charter for Quality, introduced in 1997, and had accused the FA board [2014] made up of six representatives from the FA Premier League and Football League, and six from the amateur ranks [2014] of dragging its feet over the issue.
But Lord Mawhinney responded indignantly to the former West Ham United player's assertions, pointing to the League's investment in football at youth level.
"I am not impressed with the arguments [2014] and I am certainly not impressed with the methodology," said Lord Mawhinney, who was speaking at the launch of the Coca-Cola Football League season, which begins this weekend.
"About £65 million is spent each year on the development of the game for eight-year-olds to 18-year-olds.
"About £30 million of that comes from Barclays Premiership clubs, and about £30 million from Football League clubs.
"We have spoken many times about our commitment to youth development, and the importance we place on getting young people onto the pitch and into the stadia."
Lord Mawhinney also revealed the League's plans to try to crack down on the "cheating" he is worried could ruin the game.
Mawhinney will speak to referees' chief Keith Hackett and will consult the League's 72 clubs to try to improve players' attitudes.
