Reading striker Dave Kitson has added his views to the debate on how to revive the England national team, claiming The Football Association must better utilise the skills of former professionals in order to turn things around.

The FA promised to carry out a 'root and branch investigation' into the game in England after the national team's failure to qualify for Euro 2008, and Kitson believes one thing they should turn their attentions to is how to make it easier for ex-footballers to put something back into the game.

"Most players leave the game and decide they don't want to coach," he told The Guardian. "That's a massive waste of knowledge and it also affects our future national team.

"Yet it could be so easily remedied. I don't believe in telling anyone what they should do but if you want to help, The FA should be dragging you in.

"They should be listening to any top-level player who wants to offer anything. I don't think a lot of players feel that opportunity is there for them.

"You can't just roll up to The FA and say 'I'm here, what do you want me to do?' There needs to be something where The FA says, 'This is for ex-players. Where you are living, it would be a massive benefit if you did a little bit of coaching.'"