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Coaching red tape to hit Lions' Euro bid
Dennis Wise's lack of coaching qualifications has put a question mark over Millwall's participation in the Uefa Cup next season.
The Lions qualified for Europe after making the FA Cup final on Sunday but Uefa and the Football Association are currently looking at the minimum criteria that Millwall will have to meet in order to take part in the Uefa Cup.
These include the facilities at The New Den but under Uefa's new club licensing system that comes into force next season, club bosses need to have passed certain qualifications.
Millwall boss Wise has yet to get the Uefa B badge - and he needs that, the A badge and Uefa's pro-licence in order to meet the new criteria.
Football League clubs can apply for an exemption but should the Lions win promotion to the
Premiership it would present Uefa and the FA with a first test of the new rules.
A Uefa spokesman said: "As of next season the club licensing system will be in force and part of the system covers the qualifications of the head coach. The coach has to fulfil those criteria.
"The licensing system is done by the national associations so in terms of his particular case it would be up to the FA to say what the situation is.''
The rules state clearly that each club's head coach must hold either the Uefa pro licence, or the highest coaching certificate of the national association or have a "recognition of competence'' issued by the national association if they have a minimum of five years' experience as a head coach.
Wise, who has only been a manager for a few months, does not meet any of those criteria but is working towards his first badge.
He said: "I have not even got a badge, I'm doing the B at the moment. I don't know whether or not you are allowed to manage in the Uefa Cup without qualifications.
"It's not as if I haven't played the game for a few years and I hope to think I know what I'm talking about."
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