League chief hails new player rules

FOOTBALL League chairman Brian Mawhinney has hailed the vote by the 72 clubs for a minimum of four “homegrown” players in matchday squads as an historic day for the game.

Under the new rule, from next season at least four out the 16 players in matchday squads will have had to have come through the ranks of clubs in England and Wales.

The move only affects Football League matches, not their flagship competition, the Carling Cup. Mawhinney also envisages the possibility of clubs voting to increase the minimum number of “homegrown” players in the future.