Soccer: Leeds chief hails transfer breakthrough

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has breathed a huge sigh of relief following the breakthrough in the EC transfer stalemate.

The agreement will see players tied to clubs for a minimum of one year and a maximum of five.

Ridsdale sanctioned the British record £18m signing of defender Rio Ferdinand at a time when the European Commission threatened to scupper the current transfer system.

The EC said the system contravenes European labour laws and it was feared players would be allowed to walk out on any club with just three months' notice.

But the agreement reached between the EC, Fifa and Uefa over how the new system should work - with contracts tying players to one club for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of five years - has left Ridsdale feeling fully vindicated.

Not only did the Leeds chief push ahead with the Ferdinand deal, he sanctioned other big signings such as Mark Viduka, Jason Wilcox, Dominic Matteo and Robbie Keane in the last year.

"I'm delighted agreement appears to have been reached," Ridsdale told The Mirror.

"It vindicates our policy in the transfer market over the last 12 months.

"I always believed I was doing the right thing for the football club. I knew that at some stage everyone would wake up and realise what was right for football."