Mark Schwarzer has suggested that the A-League is not helping Australia's football stars improve as it is a "way out".
The Chelsea goalkeeper, who is currently on loan at Leicester City, spent 10 years representing the Socceroos.
When asked by fans via an interview with FourFourTwo magazine why Australia have struggled to push on from their positive 2006 World Cup campaign, Schwarzer said: "All of us who played at the 2006 World Cup went though the hard times in Europe.
"It is not happening any more. We have very few guys getting their head down and digging in in Europe. The A-League is a way out - it is an escape route for some players.
"You see it now more than ever - guys come overseas, they last six months and then they turn around and return to the A-League."
Schwarzer has played in England since 1996 when he joined Bradford City before stints at Middlesbrough and Fulham.
Danielle Joynson
