The Argentina legend has joined another Tottenham great, former England manager Glenn Hoddle, in a project call Zapstarz which aims to uncover some worldbeating English talent.
But Ardiles delivered a damning verdict on Roy Hodgson’s chances of repeating England’s only World Cup triumph almost half a century ago.
The former Spurs and Newcastle manager believes there are too many foreign players in a Premier League that doesn’t really give a damn about the England team.
Ardiles, still a cult hero down White Hart Lane following his exploits there in the 1970s and 80s, has also managed in Paraguay, Japan and Israel, as well as in his native Argentina.
And he has no doubts as to the reason for England’s worsening plight. Ardiles said: “The door has been opened far too wide. In many ways it is a short cut to get cheaper talent and it stops the development of English players.
“The goal has to be to win the World Cup but that looks very, very far away.