THE man who helped develop talents such as Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale fears England could “go backwards as a sporting nation” after losing its World Cup bid.

FIFA voted yesterday to award the 2018 tournament to Russia, dashing the hopes of England, as well as Spain & Portugal and Holland & Belgium.

That defeat has concerned former Saints academy director Huw Jennings, who is now chairman of a new national charity, The Community Sports Foundation.

One of the organisation’s key aims is to promote grass roots sport and active participation, particularly among children and young adults.

Jennings, who is also academy director at Fulham, is dismayed at the government’s recent decision to axe its £162m fund for school sport.

Jennings and The Community Sports Foundation had hoped winning the 2018 World Cup would allow the country to overcome the impact of that.

But he is concerned about where the bid’s failure now leaves England’s sporting future.

“What is really disappointing about losing the bid is that we are in danger of going backwards as a sporting nation,” said Jennings.

“We must invest in our future.”

Jennings has seen first hand what investment, both financial and in terms of people, can help achieve.

After all, he was at Saints when they brought through international stars Walcott and Bale.

And Jennings also helped develop current Saints talent Adam Lallana.

But he has criticised Minister for Sport and Olympics Hugh Robertson’s plans to cut funding for the country’s 450 school sports partnerships.

“Sport at grass roots level desperately needs investment,” said Jennings.

“If the government is looking to take away money from school sports partnerships, for example, then where are the resources coming from?

“If you have got a commitment to a major event, like the World Cup, then there is a real momentum that starts to build and you have a focal point.

“Arguably, the 2012 Olympics have that.

“But, at the moment, you have to question the effectiveness of its legacy provisions.

“The government has now really got to step up to the plate and start to work with grass roots sport, to build a strategy and ensure we can now move on from this and continue to develop all aspects of sport.

“We have got to have a commitment to provision.

“For the health of the nation, we have got to ensure there is greater participation in sport and exercise.”

Jennings admitted he was not surprised that England lost out on the World Cup.

“Of course, it’s very disappointing,” said Jennings.

“Like most people, I felt over the last few weeks that it was unlikely we were going to be successful.

“In spite of seeming to pull out all the stops in recent days to demonstrate that we have got not only the passion, but a good technical bid, there were other forces at play.”