ManU "declined to share" its players' fitness data with the England national team staff over "fears that it could end up in the wrong hands," according to Jack Pitt-Brooke of the London INDEPENDENT. England Manager Gareth Southgate has four ManU players in his squad to face Scotland and France next month, and "decided again to not include" ManU forward Wayne Rooney. Southgate wanted ManU's sports science data on its English players to "help his decision-making but they would not share it." Such a stance is "not unique" to ManU. Southgate pointed out his team always shares its data with the clubs, but that "helpfulness is not always reciprocated." Southgate said, "We share our data, we don't always receive data. That's where we would like to head towards, because it helps more around working out a training schedule when they first come into camp." The "issue is that, until recently, the England staff has been largely made up of coaches primarily employed by top clubs." That makes some clubs, such as ManU, "reluctant to share sports science data on its players because they do not want rival clubs to know exactly how fit their players are." Hoping to "clear up these trust issues in the future," the FA is moving toward a "more permanent England staff, without club ties." England assistant manager Steve Holland "left his position" as assistant first team coach at Chelsea. With the exception of goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson, who holds the same position with EPL side Crystal Palace, "staff members who are employed by other clubs will not be used by England any more" (INDEPENDENT, 5/31).
