Albion supremo Micky Adams has slammed the FA for choosing Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson as England's new coach.
He has accused them of appointing a "designer manager" and disappointing up and coming English coaches.
But the move has been welcomed by Adams' Albion predecessor Jeff Wood, who has strong links with Scandanavian football.
Lazio coach Eriksson has been given a five-year contract from July, although the FA hope the 52-year-old will start the job sooner.
Adams said: "I am disappointed. The FA have appointed a designer manager.
"It seems Premiership clubs are looking at foreigners as though they are the best, but they have bought foreign. This man is going to have to work with English lads.
"I have got nothing against Eriksson, but we could have operated a pyramid system of England coaches.
"This will disappoint up and coming managers through the leagues. I think there are enough good English coaches, like Curbishley and Robson.
"I hope the FA come clean as well and announce why they didn't give Terry Venables the opportunity to take the job again."
Wood played in Sweden, Finland and Denmark and also went on to coach in Finland.
"Sven-Goran has a very good reputation in Scandanavia and his record speaks for itself," Wood said.
"He has done everything you look for in an international manager. He has won leagues in Italy, Portugal and Sweden and European competitions, so he has a wealth of experience.
"He started coaching at a very young age and he is a very well respected man.
"It would have been great if we could have put an Englishman in charge, but that has not gone as well as expected recently."
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