MATT LE TISSIER would not make it in the modern game. And that’s the view of the man himself.

Not for the first time, Guernsey’s greatest ever footballer has criticised the modern game.

On Sky’s Gillette Soccer Saturday programme, the player who scored 209 goals in 540 appearances for Southampton and won eight England caps, said the current professional game in England was based more on athleticism and size, rather than pure skills.

And speaking in The Times yesterday, the Sarnian sporting icon said: ‘I am not sure I would even make it through to a first team [today] because I wasn’t an athlete, because I could not do the 100 metres in under 11 and a half seconds and it would be very difficult to break through on talent alone. It is horrific, but that is the way it is going.’

Which begs the question. If ‘Le God’ can’t make it, what chance of any of today and tomorrow’s youngsters making it as a professional?

Le Tissier says that if they do, it will have more to do with their power, pace and size than the number of keepy-uppies, Cruyff turns and dribbling skills.

The great man used Portsmouth as an example.

‘I had a look at their team last week. They had about seven players over six foot, all lightning quick, all big, strong athletes, and in this day and age that is what managers are looking for.’

Paul Ockleford, coach of the island under-16 and 18 sides, accepts Le Tissier’s argument, but believes there will always be a place for real class.

‘I think someone like Matt would be a footballer, because he was so good. But I think Matt is right. It’s now about athleticism and speed, but it’s also going a step further and I think it’s the knowledge base that clubs are looking for.

‘The psychological part of the game is coming into the game much more.

‘I think younger players now have a greater understanding of the game.’

Senior island boss Steve Ogier says the chances of a local lad making it as a professional are slim and the key to it will be family relocation at an early age.

‘I think it will be really difficult for anyone over here to make it as a top professional.

‘I think there’s only a slim chance. At an early age they’d have to get over there [the UK] for sure.’

But Ogier says there would be always room for someone as good as Le Tissier.

‘Yes, there is too much emphasis on work horses, but you need people like Matt. I think he would have still made it.’

The island coach has spoken at length with academy directors and has concluded that not only do emerging youngsters need to be fast, athletic and big, but they have to been mentally in tune with what is required.

‘It’s the thought process they are looking for.

‘Our thought processes are a yard or two behind the UK.

‘But Matt had a special football brain.’

* MATT LE TISSIER was speaking to The Times at golf’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship where he played among a host of celebrities from the sporting and film world in the pro-am stages of the European tour event.

Partnering Englishman Richard Bland, the five-handicap got to play three rounds on some of Scotland’s finest courses at Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and St Andrew’s, as well as practice rounds on the famous trio.

The Bland-Le Tissier combination produced rounds of 70, 74 and 73 in the company of the Dutch duo of Johan Cruyff and Maarten Lafeber.

‘They didn’t play very well and didn’t qualify for the final day, but he enjoyed it enormously,’ said Matt’s brother Mark.