Former Athletic Bilbao sporting director Rafael Alkorta has blasted the current board and president Jon Uriarte.

Alkorta left Athletic Club before Uriarte's election.

He said on Onda Vasca: "When you go to work in Lezama, in my opinion, the first thing is you have to be from Athletic. The world of football has been developing for all purposes, especially technologically, but there is a part that, as (Jose Luis) Mendilibar says, you have to smell it, which is very important, and surely you will smell it better who has played another who has not played.

"Not all former players are valid for Lezama," Alkorta warned, "but you can't brush off those who are worthy. That does seem like a lack of respect to me."

And Alkorta detailed one of the exits that have hurt him the most.

"It brings tears to my eyes when I find out that Andoni Lakabeg is being taken out of the way. He is a guy who has played for Athletic, who has given up his life, who has had a lot of problems in his life, a guy who we have given him a hand as it could not be otherwise. They take him out of Lezama saying that there is, I don't know what report, that they do not agree with. You are shameless. Andoni Lakabeg is a great coach. Everything that a boy who plays football for Athletic has to have is Andoni Lakabeg... and they took him out."

Alkorta added, "President Uriarte has surrounded himself with a certain mediocrity and that certain mediocrity is what is doing that Lezama tries to disassociate itself from those with the necessary links."