I AM a football coach based in Worcester, who having worked for Worcester City Football Club on many occasions previous, felt it necessary to respond to your front page article on Monday, May 23 headlined 'Football fathers: We are not perverts.'

At the Worcester-based sports centres I coach at, I ask parents each and every week to leave the inner area for child protection purposes.

I have not yet had a parent inform me that I was incorrect on this matter and refuse to leave the area. But under Football Association rules, if that situation occurred, I would have to refuse to coach and end the session because my insurance as an FA coach ceases to exist if I fail to work under the guidelines offered to me as a Football Association Coaches Association (FACA) member.

Alternatively, I would ask the parent to withdraw their child from the session which, ultimately, is not what the child wanted in the first place. This course of action only appeases the parent who 'wins their argument'.

Any football coach worth their salt is thoroughly vetted by the FA for child protection purposes, and I am aware that Mr Marley insists his staff are fully qualified, and provides ample opportunity for coaching and child protection qualifications for all his coaching staff. I am sure that Mr Marley would not have accused anybody of being a "pervert" or "paedophile" as the article suggests, but his interests are solely to protect the children under FA rules. Parents who cannot abide by these rules need to contact the FA to discuss the matter, and not argue with officials from Worcester City FC who are trying to educate their children.

Personally, I am pleased that these parents will no longer be taking their children to the sessions, because it is a hassle that the coaching staff - who give up their own free time to coach these children for the love of the game - could well do without.

GARY HEAD,

Worcester.