More talks on League proposal

ALAN HARDY: Backing for home-grown player quota system.

ATHLETIC will be one of few clubs unaffected if a new player-quota system is introduced next season.

It looks increasingly likely the Football League will bring in rules to encourage the development of English talent by insisting a certain number of home-grown players must be used in every team.

The subject was discussed at a recent league meeting and was greeted with considerable support.

Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy, who backs the proposal, said: “A lot of the finer points have yet to be finalised, such as whether there would be a specific number of home-produced players on the team sheet or simply in the squad.

“But there is a lot of support and it will be discussed further at the December meeting.”

New regulations would have little, if any, impact on Athletic as their youth programme continues to be highly successful.

The current senior squad contains former trainees Neal Eardley, Kelvin Lomax, Chris Taylor, Deane Smalley and Lewis Alessandra.

The Football League is also pushing FIFA to be allowed to trial goalline technology, something Athletic would endorse.

That issue came back to prominence with the Reading ‘goal that never was’ in their game at Watford.

The referee’s assistant signalled a goal for Reading as he mistakenly thought the ball had gone into the net when it had crossed the line a couple of yards wide.

League Two side Wycombe also felt aggrieved when they were denied at Bury on Saturday, with manager Peter Taylor advocating the use of technology.