BLACKPOOL South MP Gordon Marsden has leant his support to the Seasiders to get a work permit for Estonian international striker Indrek Zelinski.

The hotshot's transfer to Bloomfield Road was dramatically blocked by a panel of football experts last week, despite the same panel giving Juninio the green light to join Middlesborough.

The panel applied the rule that because Estonia are outside the top 70 in FIFA's world rankings he couldn't have a permit.

Yet to add insult to injury for the Seasiders, the panel also granted permission for Indian Baichung Bhutia to join Second Division Bury - regardless of India's lowly world ranking of 114.

Mr Marsden has written to Margaret Lodge MP at the department of education and employment, urging her to reconsider the decision not to grant Zelinski a permit and to review the inconsistent rules.

In his letter Mr Marsden said: "I must say this rule seems to be arbitrary and unfair. Surely the key consideration should be whether Indrek Zelinski can make a positive contribution to Blackpool FC, rather than the position of Estonia in the FIFA rankings."

Mr Marsden also told the Minister the current rules discriminate against smaller clubs such as Blackpool who are unable to afford players from the top FIFA countries.

He said: "At a time when the gap between the Premier League and lower divisions is widening, every effort should be made to help clubs like Blackpool compete on a more level playing field.

"The arrival of a high quality player like Zelinski would not only boost the performance, but also the morale and profile of the whole club."

On the inconsistent rules Mr Marsden said: "This is one area where the clich 'not a level playing field' could not be more appropriate.

"That's why I have taken up the case for Blackpool FC and its supporters with the Government."

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