Seaman set to stay on his `refresher' course

The England goalkeeper David Seaman (above) will continue to look like a tube of sweets for the next two years, despite the admission by a top Football Association official that the garish kit design had been a "clanger" and should be changed, writes Nick Duxbury.

Trevor Phillips, the FA's commercial director, said the red, green and orange shirt, which a disparaging Seaman first disported in last month's 1-0 win over Bulgaria at Wembley, had been a blunder. But he was then forced to concede an own goal by the garment's irate manufacturers, Umbro.

Phillips called the design "a clanger," adding that "the net result is that David Seaman has to walk out on to the Wembley pitch looking like a tube of Refreshers. You can only apologise, hold your hands up to it and put it right as soon as you can."

Umbro's umbrage had Phillips in full retreat. "Further to my remarks earlier today," he said, "I can confirm that the England away goalkeeping kit will not be changing and will be worn for the next two years."

Seaman, who was preparing with England for Wednesday's game with Croatia, refused to comment further on his sartorial suffering.

Photograph: Gary Prior/Allsport