Latics backing quota plan

Chris O'Grady

ATHLETIC will be voting for the introduction of a ‘home-grown player’ rule at next month’s extraordinary general meeting of the Football League.

Boundary Park officials have been enthusiastic backers ever since it was first proposed to encourage the development of young players.

The new rule, which is likely to be ratified at the EGM at Derby County on December 18 and come into force for the 2009/10 season, would require at least four players from clubs’ 16-man matchday squads to have been registered domestically for a minimum of three seasons before their 21st birthday.

Athletic would be unaffected as it is thought that Greg Fleming and J P Kalala are the only two players in their entire first-team squad who would not qualify under the new rule.

Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy said: “We have supported the proposal because we have to ensure we did not neglect the home-grown talent we have.

“Many Premier League clubs bring in foreign youngsters at the expense of our lads. It would not be so bad if they were signed in addition to our players, but that is not the case.

“If we want to improve the quality and strength of the England national team we cannot ignore local talent which needs to be playing at the highest level.

“Here have a good record of bringing youngsters through our centre of excellence and scholarship schemes.”

Mr Hardy added that FIFA have been advocating a similar initiative for some time, but there are potential problems about contravening European employment laws.

He says the Football League has taken the initiative and set its own parameters which are not too onerous on clubs.

Chris O’Grady, back from a loan spell at Bury, scored twice for Athletic reserves who won 5-3 at Huddersfield Town yesterday in a reserve-team friendly. Tom Eaves, Nathan Kilcourse and an own goal made up Athletic’s tally.