Wanderers will continue to scan the globe for transfer bargains despite the threat to the development of the game in this country.

Colin Todd refuses to change his foreign policy, even though he accepts that every import denies a home grown player the chance of a job in the big time.

The Burnden boss, who has assembled a league of nations in his bid to beat the drop, will not hesitate to take advantage of the Bosman ruling which has outlawed the FA's three-foreigner rule.

And he believes other Premier League clubs will also ignore players' union boss Gordon Taylor's appeal for restraint.

The PFA chief executive says clubs should adopt a rule stipulating that at least three or four of their squads should be home grown.

"I understand Gordon Taylor's fears. He's trying to strike a balance and make sure clubs try that bit harder to bring their own players through," Todd says, "but implementing such a rule is going to be difficult. Few Premier League clubs could satisfy that sort of requirement. "If there was a lot of talent available at the right price in this country, there'd be no problem. But the fact remains that there are good players available abroad at good prices and I'm sure clubs will continue to go for foreigners - even though there are complications, such as the players having to adapt."

Experience has also taught Wanderers that red tape can also be a problem. The signings of Richard Sneekes and Fabian de Freitas from Holland - an EEC country - were straightforward but they needed to satisfy Dept of Employment requirements before they could complete the £1.5 million transfer of Sasa Curcic from Partisan Belgrade.

They currently face the same obstacle with trialist Ben Maddy Sylle, who has played on the continent but was born in Guinea. Wanderers have received international clearance to play him in reserve team games but they will need a work permit to sign him on a permanent basis.

Todd need to decide soon whether that is an avenue he wishes to go down but hopes of seeing Sylle in action next week have been dashed with the postponement of the Pontins League game at home to Sheffield United - a fixture which has had to make way for the re-arranged Fourth Round FA Cup tie against Leeds.

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