Tough guy Vinnie Jones has confirmed he has been offered the role of former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson in a planned big screen biopic about Jamie Vardy – as he hit out at modern day footballl.
“I’ve been approached and I’ve said that I’m interested, but there’s still a long way to go before that goes into production or anything comes from it. I would like to do it though,” he said, in an interview with CALIBRE Quarterly magazine.
But the ex-soccer hardman added that raw homegrown talent is slipping through the Premiership’s net because overseas bosses are too lazy.
The ex-midfielder blasted non-British managers for not making the effort to watch non-league matches outside of the major cities.
This prissy attitude is making it “harder and harder” for the likes of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy and other unsung talent to make the leap from lower divisions.
Jones played for Conference League side Wealdstone before joining Wimbledon FC, a club for which he went on to play over 200 games during two spells.
51-year-old Jones, who now lives in Los Angeles, is rated favorite for the role ahead of fellow ‘Lock, Stock’ star Jason Statham and Ray Stevenson, from TV’s ‘Rome’ after a vote on the Pearson casting ran in the Leicester Mercury. It appears the producers of the movie agreed with the poll.
He said: “Non-league football has been proven to be a place where great players can be found. Just look at Ian Wright, John Barnes, and Stuart Pearce.
“Non-league football is a tough place to learn the game but it sets you on the right track and gives you that passion, heart and desire to go on and succeed.”
Earlier this year it was revealed in the British Weekly that Jones was being lined up for the role by producers… We always knew!
