ENGLISH Premier League supremo Rick Parry has been asked by the European Commission to host a meeting of top European clubs to help untangle the situation regarding football's transfer market.
The move reflects the Commission's growing frustration with UEFA who have so far refused to accept last month's European Court verdict which outlawed rules limiting the number of foreigners able to play in a side at any one time.
It is an extremely positive development," said Premiership spokesman Mike Lee. "The EC want us to act as a facilitator to bring together representatives of the EU's top professional leagues and clubs to discuss the full implications of the Bosman case and we have accepted that suggestion."
Parry met EC officials in Brussels this week to consider interpretation of the court victory by Belgian player Jean Marc Bosman. Social Affairs Commissioner Padraig Flynn, who deals with Article 48 of the Treaty of Rome which relates to free movement of workers and under which Bosman brought his case, agreed on Thursday with Parry's assertion that domestic deals in Britain can continue as before.
Flynn, however, is taking further legal advice on the only remaining grey area - how the judgement affects the likes of Eric Cantona and David Ginola should they move to another club within the United Kingdom.
. Portadown face the prospect this afternoon of being dislodged from leadership of the Irish League Premier Division. Front runners from virtually day one of the new elite championship, they have hit troubled waters.
Manager Ronnie McFall has had his problems compounded by a spate of suspensions, with Peter Kennedy and Gregg Davidson missing out this afternoon against Cliftonville at Shamrock Park. Two others are ineligible for the Ulster Cup final with Linfield at Windsor Park on Tuesday night.
Manager McFall, scouring the country for replacements, has so far drawn a blank and reckons the long term absence of Dublin mid fielder Martin Russell is one of the main reasons for the disastrous Portadown fall off in form.
