Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has hit out at the style of football being played throughout England's divisions.

"I'd like to see every manager get his players to try to pass the ball to each other," said Redknapp. "That would improve the standard of the game throughout the country from the lower divisions all the way through.

"I've seen a few games lately and thought 'what is that, a football match, why don't they try to play some football?'

"We need to encourage young players. It's going to be a problem for the England team in years to come unless we do something. The standard at youth level at the moment in my opinion is at an all-time low.

"We need to produce more managers and coaches who believe in playing football. A lot think the long ball is the way to play and are quite happy to lump it and play horrible and win."

Redknapp also pours scorn on the argument that the long ball is the only way to survive in English football's lower leagues.

"When I was manager of the Bournemouth team who walked away with the title in the old Third Division, we had two little wingers and played our way out of the division.

"I still see too many just happy to kick the ball anywhere. You can coach players and get them to play football. Glenn Hoddle went to Swindon and they passed it through midfield. He improved people by encouraging them to play good football. But there are too many clubs just prepared to lump it anywhere.

"Certain clubs have good young players who will not develop into players who can step up into the Premier League because their clubs don't want to pass the ball. They're never encouraged to play football."