BARNSLEY boss Dave Bassett has warned the Football Association to stop looking for a film star to replace Kevin Keegan and start scouring the Nationwide League.

Bassett has added to the clamour for an Englishman to be appointed to the post, even though FA chief executive Adam Crozier has vowed to consider foreign candidates such as Arsene Wenger as he starts the search for Keegan's successor following last night's 0-0 draw with Finland in Helsinki.

As leading English names continue to rule themselves out, Bassett could be talking himself into a job.

He can certainly produce an impressive CV, having guided unfashionable Wimbledon into the top flight in 1986 and repeating the feat with Sheffield United four years later.

Bassett is currently trying to steer the Oakwell club back into the Premiership, following their fleeting appearance three years ago.

But having experienced all levels of the English game during his 20-year managerial career, Bassett is convinced the final choice does not have to come out of the Premier League.

"There seems to be a general conception that everyone outside the Premier League is useless," he said. "I don't see that at all.

"There are a lot of managers who would like to do the job, despite what some people might say.

"But the FA just seem to want film stars to do it. Maybe they should change their approach."

Bassett believes the FA would have been in a position to appoint an immediate successor to Keegan had they spent some time looking for a replacement while the former Newcastle manager was still in the post.

He argues that most businesses already know what would happen if an important employee left and can't see why football should be any different.

"It can happen because Chelsea must have done it to appoint Claudio Ranieri so quickly after Gianluca Vialli quit," said Bassett.

"Assessments should be made on various contenders to find out as much as you can about them and see whether they would want the job and if they could do it.

"You shouldn't be in the position of scouring round looking for anyone who is willing to do the job.

"There are a number of people who have come out and said they don't want it.

"That doesn't mean they wouldn't be interested at all but maybe they might in a couple of years.

"I certainly don't go along with the argument that they cannot say they want it because of their commitment to their own clubs.

"If you fancy the chance of coaching England, the best way of achieving that aim is not to publicly rule yourself out."