Poland say reform a must after World Cup failure

WARSAW, June 21 (Reuters) Poland's conservative government today demanded reform from the domestic football's governing body (PZPN) as the national team returned from a disappointing first round exit at the World Cup.

''For sure there must be changes in personnel made. And I can say that if PZPN does not draw its own conclusions about it as an organisation ... we will be forced to intervene,'' Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz told public radio.

''This was not a team that was up to the World Cup finals. Or maybe in reality our football is just on this level. PZPN must decide what it is going to do with itself and Polish football.'' CONSOLATION VICTORY The Poles' expectations of at least making the second round were scuppered by defeats by Germany and Ecuador before a consolation victory over Costa Rica in their last group game yesterday.

Media and fans have called for coach Pawel Janas's resignation but PZPN bosses have said they will wait until mid-July and reports from Janas and their head of World Cup organisation Henryk Apostel before making a decision.

Chief Executive Michal Listkiewicz told Reuters late on Tuesday that he continued to believe Janas had performed well over his three years in charge and that the problem was funding and a resulting failure to nurture young talent.

Critics blame Listkiewicz for failing to put funds into football's lower echelons, hit by years of underfunding and a shortage of pitches and modern facilities, while PZPN's bloated bureaucracy flourishes.

Marcinkiewicz said his minister of sport was drawing up proposals for change.

''We need to make changes to strengthen training for kids, strengthen the elite sports schools, connect schools to the best clubs, and introduce obligatory sports training (in schools),'' he said.

REUTERS DH PM2131