Leeds boss Ken Bates calls for 'sanity' on players' wages

KEN Bates has launched an attack on the game for failing to bring through English players.

The Leeds chairman said new rules by the Football League and Premier League to encourage 'homegrown' players were vital.

Top-flight clubs will be obliged to have at least eight players trained in England and Wales in their 25-man squads from next season and Football League clubs a minimum of 10.

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Bates said: "I read somewhere that the Premier League have sent 172 players of different nationalities to the World Cup and that is obviously stifling the growth of homegrown kids.

"It is significant that since 2003 Chelsea have not brought one single English player into their first-team squad and similar situations apply to other clubs.

"This is going to put a limit on the unlimited imports of foreign players.

"This is an idea both the Premier League and the Football League are trying to implement to encourage the growth of youngsters and give them a better chance."

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Bates added that every Football League clubs was now trying to cut their wage bill.

He said: "A little bit of sanity is starting to come back to the wages market.

"Every club is seeking to reduce their wages bill drastically and reduce the proportion of wages to turnover."