Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry is at the heart of a fiery situation involving a Wales-based scout who is questioning the speed with which he secured his coaching licence.
Henry secured his UEFA A Licence earlier this month through the Football Association of Wales, a course that requires a minimum of 180 hours of tuition.
Having gained the B Licence last year which requires a minimum of 120 hours, Will Foley has cast doubt over the speed with which Henry has completed the required work and believes that he has been fast-tracked due to his status.
“There was no way humanly possible Thierry had even completed his UEFA B licence and could have finished all his assessments and tasks on the A Licence when everyone else participating on the course has not even had the chance,” he told The Daily Mail.
“Where does it end with the Welsh FA? Are they not worried that someone somewhere will start asking to see proof that all these top names are completing what is required by UEFA to fully pass the courses?
“They are quite openly putting certain chosen names through the courses without completing the so-called allotted number of hours which all the candidates have to be seen to be doing. The big names get an easy ride while the others have to do it the hard way.”
Henry has been working with the Arsenal youth players in recent months to gain experience, and can now manage in the professional game below Premier League level or at an academy.
In order to take one of the top jobs in Europe, the Frenchman would need to complete the Pro Licence, and he will arguably be under more scrutiny this time round following Foley’s suggestion.
While it is highly unlikely that there is anything untoward in terms of Henry failing to reach the requirements in order to be awarded the licence, it remains to be seen if the matter is investigated further.
The 38-year-old will naturally be seen as a future Arsenal boss as he continues to work within the club, but with Arsene Wenger coming under increased pressure this season given the club’s lack of success to this point, it is unclear as to whether the Gunners hierarchy would consider Henry as a potential successor this early in his coaching career.
Although he would be a popular choice amongst supporters, Henry will arguably need some experience elsewhere in order to be able to successfully carry out the top job at the Emirates otherwise he may risk tarnishing his legacy with the club.