BURNLEY are set to back a Football League proposal to introduce a ‘Home Grown Players’ rule, which would come into affect next season if passed.

The scheme demands at least four players from each 16-man matchday squad be registered to the club for a minimum of three seasons before their 21st birthday.

And director of youth development Martin Dobson has urged the Clarets to vote in favour when the member clubs meet at next month’s specially arranged EGM, believing that the emergence of Chris McCann, Jay Rodriguez and Alex MacDonald from the youth ranks will give the club a head-start over many of their Championship rivals.

“I would welcome the move,” said Dobson.

“There has got to be a level of younger players coming through with the experienced ones as well.

“We have got those players in place anyway, and it will probably make it a fairer competition.

“To be fair to a lot of chairmen they would want to see young players coming through anyway, particularly in this climate, plus it gives those players an incentive.”

Although the title of the scheme suggests the matchday quartet should be locally based, the regulations point out that a player, from anywhere in the world, would be classed as ‘home grown’ providing he had been with the club for at least three seasons, which ties in well with Burnley’s ventures into America and Eastern Europe.

The club this week announced a recruitment drive in Russia and Hungary, just days after confirming a tie-up with United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League side Cary U23s, forming Cary Clarets.

“The bottom line is trying different things in an effort to raise the bar,” said Dobson.

“The days of a 16-man squad all coming from a 10-mile radius of the football club is a no-go at the moment.

“But, having said that, we’ve got to make sure we do identify the locally based players first and foremost, like Jay Rodriguez.

“We’ve got to make sure they are at our football club and we don’t miss out on them, although there is great competition in this area.

“I’ve got a lot of regard for Manchester City with all the players they are producing at first team level.

"But now they’ve got all the money in the world almost, does that restrict those players who won the FA Youth Cup last season? They may now have to find clubs elsewhere.

“With this scheme players would know they will eventually get a chance.”

In announcing the proposals Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney said: “It is important we demonstrate that, as a body of clubs, our commitment to youth development is total.

“Therefore, not only are we pulling out all the stops to develop these young players in the first place, we are also ensuring that they have the opportunity to show their talent in the first team.”

The scheme will be put to the vote at Derby County on December 18.