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England footballers David Beckham (left) and Wayne Rooney pose for photographers during a photocall to launch The England 2018 / 2022 World Cup bid at Wembley Stadium in London, 2009.

Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein was on Thursday appointed "international president" of England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.

Bid chairman Lord David Triesman, also the chairman of England's governing Football Association (FA), has come under fire for not devoting enough time solely to bringing the World Cup to England in either 2018 or 2022.

And an FA statement said on Thursday: "Dein will share with the chairman, David Triesman, a key role in the international promotion of England's campaign to host the FIFA World Cup. His appointment begins immediately."

Triesman added: "David (Dein) has a huge amount of experience in world football and an excellent network of contacts. We are very pleased that he will be joining the team in such an important role for the crucial final ten months.

"We are happy with the way the bid is progressing but it is important to keep the momentum building in any campaign, and to peak at the optimum moment, and we are sure David can achieve that with us."

Dein, an FA vice-chairman and former president of the now-disbanded G14 group of leading European clubs, said: "I am delighted to be part of the 2018/2022 bid and look forward to an exciting campaign.

"Having had 25 years in English, European and world football this was a challenge I could not refuse. Now the hard work begins."

Dein has already given assistance to the bid informally at the recent African Nations Cup in Angola, as well as at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria and on other occasions.

"We are now entering a critical phase of the bid both domestically and internationally," said England bid chief executive Andy Anson.

"During this time we need to continue to concentrate on our message to the FIFA executive committee of why England is the right country to be awarded the honour of hosting the World Cup.

"David (Dein) is able to give this international role his full focus and will play a key role in that advocacy within the campaign team."

A joint bid from Spain and Portugal is considered the main opposition to England, while Russia and Australia are also among leading contenders. The host country for both 2018 and 2002 will be chosen by FIFA in December.

England have only staged the World Cup once, in 1966, when they won the competition for the only time in their history by defeating West Germany 4-2 after extra time in the final at London's Wembley Stadium.