Football: Uefa to help clubs hit by Bosman ruling

A Uefa fund to provide compensation to small clubs who lose players on free transfers under the Bosman ruling was called "an interesting idea" by a director of one of the League sides that could benefit.

David Rhodes, the managing director of Wrexham, welcomed the plan drawn up by football's European governing body, but said the reaction from English football's authorities will be crucial. Uefa's idea, revealed yesterday, could appeal to smaller clubs throughout Europe, whose survival was threatened by the Bosman ruling on out-of-contract players in 1995.

"While we are interested in the idea, we would like to see what the Football League come up with, because they have been talking to everyone for a while," Rhodes said. "Obviously there is something that needs to be done to help the smaller clubs, and we will keep an eye on it."

A Uefa executive committee member said the plan was for up to pounds 70,000 to be paid, from a pool established from television revenue, to a small club that loses out as a result of free transfers.