Pakistan football saw remarkable improvement, especially at youth level after Layton joined the Pakistan ranks. —File photo

Catch-them-young, is the theory of the Briton who believes in youth as he wants to focus on grassroots in football by nurturing and moulding them to become future super stars. But, he says, a long-term association will be ideal, especially for Pakistan football.

`I will be delighted to be involved in any way with the development of football in Pakistan. That in the long-term is more important than any thing. If offered I would relish any or even all the youth squads to work with again, I found it very enjoyable last time, and the players were hungry for knowledge. Get the base right and rest will follow,` Layton told Dawn.com from Hereford, England on Tuesday.

The 58-year-old, however, avoided disclosing the amount he might demand if offered a job by PFF, saying it was a `private issue`. Sources, nevertheless, say while present senior team George Kottan is believed to be getting around $100,000 per year, Layton might join even if half of that money is offered.

`I wish George all the best. He has a difficult task ahead of him, but I think he is strong enough to see it through if allowed,` Layton, training a semi-professional local outfit Westfields, said about Kottan who was his opponent as Bangladesh coach during under-20 Asian qualifier.

The British coach, who had a successful three-year stint as Pakistan coach from 1999 to 2002, was perhaps the best since the downfall of Pakistan in the 1980s. Among several talented players, current Pakistan goalkeeper Jaffar Khan and star midfielder Mohammad Essa are Layton`s discoveries.

Pakistan football saw remarkable improvement, especially at youth level after Layton joined the Pakistan ranks. Under his tutelage, Pakistan qualified for the under-19 and under-17 Asian championships` final rounds for the first time. Pakistan came within a whisker to qualify for under-20 Asian championship final berth when they drew 2-2 with Bangladesh who moved ahead on a better goal average.

Although Layton was junior squads coach and the director youth development with Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), he was equally impressive as senior team coach. It was under him that Pakistan scored their first-ever goal and a point at 2001 World Cup qualifiers after a 3-3 draw with Sri Lanka. It was during the same match that striker Gohar Zaman poached the first-ever hat-trick at World Cup qualifying round in the history of Pakistan football.

Indifferent attitude of the then PFF officials, however, resulted in a slump as Layton left for home after a three-year contract, although the federation was free to use FIFA`s annual $250,000 grant to pay the foreign coach who was sent by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under Aid 25 programme.

Surprisingly, Layton never heard from the PFF, although he was one of the coaches who approached the federation for the job.

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat alleged that Layton`s credentials proved `wrong` as the clubs he had mentioned in his resume said the coach had not been associated with them.

`He (Layton) was not associated with any club when he applied. When we checked with the clubs he had mentioned in his CV, they denied he ever worked for them. How we were supposed to hire a coach who was not associated with any team,` he said, while Layton denied Faisal`s allegations.

When pointed out about Layton`s achievements as Pakistan coach and need to groom talent at youth level, the PFF chief changed his stance, saying it was not possible to hire a separate coach for junior squads because of financial constraints. He, however, admitted local coaches could not be compared to professional foreign coaches.

Asked would recently-hired Austrian coach George Kottan be able to train juniors despite hectic senior activity ahead this year, he added `Kottan will find time to coach at senior and junior levels somehow.`