Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield would have been capable of taking on the role if he had prepared "fully and diligently", his trial has heard.

The 75-year-old retired chief superintendent, who denies the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters, was promoted to the role less than three weeks before taking charge of the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989, Preston Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

Douglas Hopkins, a former police officer who commanded matches at Arsenal's Highbury ground in the 1980s, said Duckenfield was experienced enough for the role.

He said: "Having read his CV and heard what was said about him, his experience should have made him capable of taking on the role of match commander, subject to him having prepared himself fully and diligently."

He said it may have been more appropriate for Duckenfield's predecessor Brian Mole, who commanded semi-finals at the Sheffield Wednesday ground in 1987 and 1988, to take the role but there was no reason for Duckenfield not to do it.

Asked by Richard Matthews QC, prosecuting, if Duckenfield fell short of a reasonably competent match commander, he said: "That's my opinion, sir."

Mr Hopkins, who worked for the Football Association as a crowd control adviser after retiring from the Met Police, said Duckenfield should have paid attention to an area of 23 turnstiles for more than 24,000 Liverpool fans at Leppings Lane.

He said: "I think that's an area a reasonably competent match commander would have concentrated on and would have known a lot about and would have made contingency plans to deal with whatever occurred there."

Mr Hopkins said by 2.30pm, half an hour before kick-off, the situation outside the turnstiles was becoming "critical".

He said: "I would anticipate a reasonably competent match commander would be concerned by 2.30pm about a rapidly growing crowd at Leppings Lane turnstiles."

He told the court extra officers could have been deployed to the area and consideration could have been given to delaying the kick-off or opening an exit gate for a controlled entry of fans, with police and stewards to check tickets.

Benjamin Myers QC, defending Duckenfield, suggested Mr Hopkins' opinions were "pure hindsight".

Mr Hopkins said: "You can browbeat me all you like, Mr Myers, I do not agree. It is not hindsight."

The court has heard that Duckenfield, of Bournemouth, ordered the opening of exit gates after crowds built up outside the Leppings Lane turnstiles, allowing those outside to head down the central tunnel to the pens where the fatal crush happened.

Ninety-six men, women and children died following the crush on the terrace at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Five of those who lost their lives in the disaster were from Halton.

Under the law at the time, there can be no prosecution for the death of the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died more than a year and a day after his injuries were caused.

The court was adjourned until Wednesday.