Rachel Yankey wants more female coaches in top managerial roles

England and Arsenal great Rachel Yankey has challenged men's football clubs to move with the times and let outstanding female coaches prove themselves in top jobs.

Yankey, who is expecting her first child, retired from the game last year and is now working towards earning a UEFA A coaching licence.

The 129-cap former England winger is concerned women stand little chance of landing high-profile posts unless they bring with them pre-established lofty reputations.

"There's some fantastic female coaches at a high level," Yankee said. "But if you spoke to those coaches they'd tell you it wasn't an easy process.

"They were already recognised players moving on into coaching. They were in the game, knowing the right people, but for people now that are perhaps not in the game but have the love of coaching, it's quite a difficult and expensive process to get involved in."

The 37-year-old cited former England boss Hope Powell and Shelley Kerr, the former Arsenal manager who will become Scotland boss after this summer's European Championship, as having enjoyed successful playing careers before moving to the touchline.

But female coaches are scarce in the men's professional game, and even prime jobs in women's football often go to men with England manager Mark Sampson and Manchester City Women's boss Nick Cushing two notable examples.

UEFA licences do not come cheaply, and they might be perceived as a waste of money to women if they fail to generate chances to build a career.

"People are perhaps put off because of the lack of job opportunities," Yankey said.

"If we can have more jobs available where women are applying and getting job interviews and then getting jobs, whether they're as the manager of the team or whether they're assistant or at academy level, or first-team level... it's still an environment where the coaching team is diverse and has women within it.

"You should be able to go for any job. Whether you get that job - the best coach should get it - you should feel confident enough that you've passed the same course as somebody else.

"I think it will help the male game at academy, at senior level, to have a more diverse coaching team available to the players. Female coaches can bring something to the game perhaps different to male coaches."

Rachel Yankey is be at the forefront of Betfair's Fairer Game campaign funding 50 females and enabling them to secure their UEFA B coaching license ' To apply for a place, visit www.fairergame.com