A football coaching company in Shortlands has warned parents and schools to be careful about who they hire to teach their kids.

Prostars Football School has become the first company in Bromley to be awarded the new Football Association Licensed Football Providers award.

The award was established because there is currently no regulation for somebody to set up a football coaching company.

Head coach Ian Wooton, 49, said other football schools were not operating in a “clear and transparent way”.

He warned: “There is often hidden costs and they give exaggerated ratio of numbers they can look after.

“What tends to happen is a company will send one coach for an after-school class for 16 children, which fits the quota, but you should never just have one coach unattended.

“It is all about the safeguarding of children. Many might be ex-professional players, and I am not saying they are not skilled coaches, but they are not skilled regarding the safety of children.”

Prostars Football School was presented with the new award on Tuesday (April 24) from the Kent FA at Marian Vian Primary School in Beckenham.

The new award is replacing the old Kent FA Accredited Secondary School system.

Four football schools have met the criteria to receive the award - three from Kent and one from Bromley.

Luke Baker, football development officer for youth football and mini-soccer, explained the new qualification.

He said: “Our new Licensed Football Provider programme allows organisations who want to achieve our kite-mark to demonstrate that they are providing football in a safe, fun and inclusive way.

“With so much choice, it is crucial that we recognise and reward those organisations who provide the right environment for our young people to love the game.”