BAICHUNG BHUTIA'S hopes of playing for Bury increased last night as the Shakers prepared for today's appeal date in Manchester.

Bury North MP David Chaytor has given his full backing to Bury's bid to land Bhutia and has written to the Department for Education and Employment urging them to grant the 22-year-old Indian striker a work permit.

The Professional Footballers' Association, who are represented on today's appeal panel, are also not totally against Bhutia's application.

Their criteria is similar to the DfEE's in that any player being granted a work permit must be world class in order not to block the path of Britain's own youngsters or other home-based players of a similar standard.

The DfEE's stance is primarily that a player's nation must be ranked in the top 70 by FIFA - India are currently 114th on the FIFA list.

A spokesman for the PFA said: "If Bury do use the argument that Bhutia's signing would help promote the game within the Asian communities over here it would do their case no harm at all. "There are thousands and thousands of youngsters playing the game out there at grass roots level, but for some reason their path into the professional game is being blocked. There isn't an Asian-born player in the game over here.

"It is important that we try to redress the balance, while at the same time ensure that it is not preventing our own youngsters coming through.

"If Bury can prove that Bhutia has made an impact over in India and that they could not find a player of a similar standard over here they are in with chance."

Bhutia IS definitely big news in India. He has scored 21 goals in 31 internationals for his country, including one that made him the youngest player to score for India at the age of 18.

He hails from Sikkim, close to the Himalaya and already a hotel has been named after him there and the State Goverment have honoured him.

He has been the centre of attention since returning to Sikkim from his trial with Bury and the Statesman newspaper in Calcutta reported recently that "never before in the history of Indian football has a player received so much attention from the media."

The BBC World Service also contacted the Bury Times this week for an interview on the Bhutia situation.

Bhutia himself says: "I am confident that I will finally make it as a lot people in Manchester and the places adjoining Bury have already given me the necessary confidence.

"The local MP is supporting me and the Bury officials are also trying to see that I get the necessary work permit as early as possible." Bhutia, voted Best Player of the recent South Asian Federation Games, previously played at club level with East Bengal.

He has two agents, Raj Prohit and Jas Bines. They held a press conference in India at the weekend and said that Bhutia would join Bury within "four to five weeks."

Bhutia also had trials with Aston Villa and Fulham and added: "It is better to raise my standard gradually. As a high school student it is not wise to try to sit in the graduation classes. I feel Bury is the best side to start with.

"It is skill that matters and I think that I will be moulded by the Bury coaches in a much more organised manner. After joining them I hope that I will be able to produce a much better brand of soccer than you have seen from me in the last four years."

Mr Chaytor, a lifelong Shakers supporter, is right behind Bhutia. He said: "I have urged the DfEE to reconsider their decision as I think Mr Bhutia's presence would not only be good for Bury FC, but would also give a terrific boost to racial harmony.

"Football would then be seen as a game which truly belonged to the community as a whole.

"The other ridiculous thing about the current rules is that they lead to a permanent 'Catch 22' situation for countries outside the top 70.

"International sides that are trying to establish themselves in the footballing world should be given the chance to develop their skills and raise standards through stronger contacts with clubs in top-ranked countries.

"I've told the Minister that I think the current system is both arbitrary and unfair. Mr Bhutia is precisely the sort of player who, for the sake of football in both this country and his own, should be given the chance to play for a British club.

"If he loses his appeal today, it will be a bad day for the game and for local race relations."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.