MORE than a thousand professional footballers are expected to be discarded this summer and the prospects of them all finding new clubs are pretty bleak.

Town have up to a dozen players out of contract and those released will take their chances in the pre-season trials lottery.

Inflated wages and television money are widely blamed but whatever the reasons, it is an alarming time for the PFA.

And how will managers have time to give trials to all those discarded?

I think Andy King has hit on a great idea by organising two days of trial games next week, ie while the current season is still in full swing.

Rather than having to disrupt pre-season games by including Fred Bloggs and John Smith (usually recommended as the next Rivaldo by their agent) Andy gives himself a better chance of going into the new season with a clearer idea of what he has got and what he still needs.

However, organising trials on your own doorstep will not eradicate the need to go out looking for new stars.

If Shaun Reid had not spent rainy evenings in Leigh and Burnley, then Paul Edwards and Matt Heywood might have been lost to the professional game.

Andy has written to all Premiership and First Division clubs asking them to send players who could help Town next season.

Everton seem keen to offload David Ginola and Dwight Yorke cannot get a game at Old Trafford. You never know?

However, 'personal terms' might prove a problem.

GOOD news that FIFA will be tightening up transfer regulations to avoid the risk of 'bungs' taking place.

We have all heard the tales about 'sweetners' and brown envelopes exchanged at motorway service stations.

Sadly, whatever FIFA do, there will always be those who seek to take advantage. Still, with no multi-million pound transfers taking place at the County Ground in the summer, there should be no danger of the finger being pointed in this direction.