Jamie Vardy film: Vinnie Jones confirms he is set to play Nigel Pearson in film about Vardy’s remarkable life and career
But the hardman actor says foreign managers are stopping players like the Leicester striker coming through
VINNIE JONES has confirmed rumours that he will play Nigel Pearson in a film about Jamie Vardy – but says foreign managers are stopping players like the Leicester striker coming through.
Hardman Vinnie says he is set to play former Foxes boss in the upcoming flick about Vardy's remarkable life and career.
But he said that raw home-grown talent is slipping through the Premier League's net because overseas bosses are too lazy.
The ex-defender blasted non-British managers for not making the effort to watch non-league matches outside of the major cities.
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And he reckons top-flight managers, especially those from sunny climes, are too precious to stand around in the rain on their weekends off scouting for stars.
This prissy attitude is making it "harder and harder" for the likes of Leicester striker Vardy and other unsung talent to make the leap from lower divisions.
Jones played for Conference League side Wealdstone before joining Wimbledon FC, a club for which he went on to play over 200 games during two spells.
In an interview in CALIBRE Quarterly magazine, out this week, the Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor said opportunities for non-league players are diminishing.
"You always hope it can happen but it is getting harder and harder in the modern age," he said.
"I will tell you this though: it is no fluke that that an English manager like Nigel Pearson signed an English footballer from the non-league, as I can guarantee you that wouldn't happen with a foreign manager.
"Is a foreign manager going to be driving to see Wealdstone vs Stevenage on a cold, wet, Saturday afternoon scouting for raw talent? I don't think so. "
But Jones, who is currently hosting the 45,000-capacity Hyundai FanDome experience in London for Euro 2016, added: "As long as there are the Pearson-type managers in the game, then we will get a story like Jamie Vardy's happening again."
For the first time, Jones also confirmed rumours that he could play ex-Leicester City manager Pearson in a planned big screen biopic about Vardy.
"I've been approached and I've said that I'm interested, but there's still a long way to go before that goes into production or anything comes from it. I would like to do it though," he said.
Jones, who now lives in LA, said non-league football is a proving ground where gems can and should be mined.
"Non-league football has been proven to be a place where great players can be found. Just look at Ian Wright, John Barnes, Stuart Pearce; all of them came from non-league football and look at the quality they brought to the game.
"Non-league football is a tough place to learn the game but it sets you on the right track and gives you that passion, heart and desire to go on and succeed."
