KILBY ON TRANSFER OF POWER Club chiefs voice concern over new system BLACKBURN Rovers and Burnley chiefs today joined forces in voicing their concern at the controversial new ruling which could abolish all transfer fees for players aged 24 or over.

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness and Burnley chairman Barry Kilby both fear the groundbreaking move -- prompted by the European Union -- could change the face of football forever.

And, as the game struggles to come to terms with the implications of the new proposals, it could have an immediate effect on both clubs' current transfer policies.

"Anyone thinking of going into the transfer market at the minute has got to be wary," said Kilby.

"Clubs could go out and spend money on a player only to find out a couple of months down the line he is free to walk away.

"So this is an issue we've got to keep a very close eye on."

Souness is equally wary of the plans but accepts it is now virtually inevitable it is going to happen.

"The main problem I see is you wouldn't be able to plan for the future," said Souness.

"Your plans would only last for a year.

"If you look back down the years the secret of every successful side has been settled a team.

"That would be made a lot more difficult if the present system was brought in because you might have to change your team at the end of every season.

"But there's good things as well as bad things about it. "Players won't have the safety net of a big, fat contract so they will have to go out and do the business to win another deal.

"On the downside, however, as a manager you are going to fall out with players now and again and, if that happens, then a player can just turn around and say he's leaving at the end of the season.

"But I don't know what the answer is.

"This is not football legislation -- you are talking about something that the European Parliament has decided.

"They have decided that the current system isn't right and we can't do anything about it.

"They are saying that football is the same as any other profession and we know it isn't.

"Blackburn wouldn't be the best off, but we certainly wouldn't be the worst either."

If the proposals become law then it will bring an end to transfer fees for players over 24, but with the chance for clubs to demand compensation based on players' salaries.

International transfers of players aged under 18 would also be scrapped.

But players between 18 and 24 would still have a transfer value.

"Clubs have spent fortunes building youth academies but we could have a situation where you spend time and money developing a player only for him to leave for nothing," said Souness. "Okay, they might not be able to go for nothing until they are 24.

"But it's something that's going to have to be looked at very carefully."

That point was echoed by Kilby who added: "Why would you want to plough money into producing your own players if they are free to just walk away?

"This could have serious consequences for clubs who rely on bringing young players through the ranks.

"But the whole argument is something of a two-edged sword.

"Under the present system you could have a situation where a player is no longer wanted by a club but he just decides to sit on a long contract.

"And if a club gets relegated then they can be stuck with a wage bill geared to a higher division.

"If players had annual contracts, however, then at least that would allow clubs to cut their cloth accordingly."