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Indian Super League: Ex-West Brom boss Steve Clarke has no age concerns over marquee players

Image: Alessandro del Piero: Italian veteran will play for the Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League

Former West Brom manager Steve Clarke has dismissed concerns over the age of some of the marquee names set to play in the inaugural Indian Super League.

Clarke was in the running to replace Tony Pulis as Crystal Palace boss before Neil Warnock’s appointment on Tuesday and has been linked to the vacant managerial position at Leeds.

The 51-year-old, who served as assistant coach to managers including Jose Mourinho and Kenny Dalglish, is also known to have held initial talks over a managerial role with the ISL's Goan franchise earlier this month.

And he defended the ISL's decision to recruit veteran stars including Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg and Luis Garcia, insisting the former Premier League trio possess the technical ability to add value to the league.

Image: Robert Pires: Arsenal legend heading to ISL

"I think they will make an impact," Clarke told Sky Sports.

"Okay, they are players that are probably past their prime, past their best, but they are players who can bring a wealth of experience and a little bit of glamour to the process.

"They’re not going to be as fit as they were in their heyday but they’re still going to have the skills and the ability.

"If they can pass on a little bit of that knowledge and ability to some of the Indian players, then that is going to be good for everybody involved."

Juventus legend Alessandro del Piero has since joined the league’s Delhi Dynamos franchise in a role that will also see him become a brand ambassador for the league.

You would like to think that this league will help improve the structure and the quality of the players coming through in the country.
Steve Clarke

Clarke, who told Sky Sports earlier this week that he would consider an approach from an ISL club, says the league must start well for the sake of Indian football’s long-term health.

"The Super League is still a project that’s in its infancy," he said.

"They’ve had a few problems getting it fitted in at the right time of the season, but it’s important that the first one goes well because that then gives you the platform to go and build for the future.

"You would like to think that this league will help improve the structure and the quality of the players coming through in the country.

"It’s not going to happen overnight - it’s going to be a long slow process.

"But if this inaugural tournament is the first building block in that process then that is good for everybody."

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