DEAN Holdsworth confirmed today that the players of Bolton Wanderers are backing their union in its dispute with the Premier League and Nationwide League over television money.

But the Professional Footballers' Association representative at the Reebok insisted the threat of strike action was not about "greedy footballers".

"We are a union and we represent all players," Holdsworth explained. "It's our duty to ensure that the union is there to offer support to its members when they need it."

The PFA is threatening to strike because the two leagues are offering less money this season, even though they are receiving more because of the new television rights agreement.

PFA negotiators are angry that the union is receiving a smaller slice of football's new multi-million pound television deal this season instead of the agreed percentage share they have enjoyed in previous years. They are preparing to ballot members on a course of action that would involve players striking to black out matches on the "live" TV listings.

"A strike is a long way off," Holdsworth said, "but the PFA have had an agreement on their share of TV money for numerous years and now they are being told their share will be less.

"The money we receive from the TV deal is vitally important - and it isn't going into the pockets of so-called gready players. It goes into a fund which is used for a variety of purposes to help people who need it."

The PFA has always taken pride in looking after its own - those who fall on hard times or whose careers are drastically cut short. Former Liverpool "hard man" Tommy Smith has received financial help from his union for operations and medical assistance to relieve him from arthritis while former Coventry defender David Busst has been a beneficiary since his career was ended by a broken leg.

"We have a hardship and benevolent fund for ex-players who fall on hard times like Tommy and for those like David whose careers are cut short," Holdsworth explains.

"Players are in a high risk situation every time they play, just one tackle away from ending their career.

"And although the public mainly see the cream of the game in the Premiership, there are many in the lower divisions - and I was there with Brentford - who leave their clubs having to find new sources of income.

"We all live the dream but the fact is that the majority of youngsters who come into the game as scholars these days simply don't make it. Seventy five per cent who come in at 16 are out of the game by the time they are 21. That's scary. So the PFA make sure they have an education to fall back on."

Holdsworth, who represents 35 Bolton members on the PFA committee, concedes: "Some of the players here will walk out of the game and not have to work again if they don't want to but this is not about us.

"It's about the union having the funds to ensure that there is a cushion there for those who need one to fall back on."