SO WHAT can you buy for £18 million ?

Eighteen Ian Moores, nine Marcus Bents, most football clubs outside the Premiership and a partridge in a pear tree. And Rio Ferdinand.

Peckham's most famous export since Derek Trotter duly signed on the dotted line to become the most expensive defender in football history.

Leeds must have the cash so who can argue at the price ? But it makes your heart bleed when you read that Aldershot, recently resurfacing in the first round of the FA Cup, went out of the Football League in 1992 because they couldn't pay off debts of £92,000.