This surely has to be sorted out......
Tom Hopper joined Leicester City from Boston United.DAVID NEWTON has demanded non-league clubs receive more protection from the Football League vultures who raid their treasure trove of young talent.
Boston United lost Centre of Excellence star Tom Hopper to Leicester City for nothing earlier this summer.
If the Pilgrims had been a Football League club, they would have received compensation for the talented striker, who, then 15, became United's youngest-ever player last season when he figured in the UniBond League Premier Division.
But with the number of non-league clubs with Centres of Excellence on the rise, Newton insists the matter must addressed.
"The one thing I think we're lacking at our level is protection of players," explained the Pilgrims chairman.
"We couldn't keep Tom because once you're out of the Football League structure, you can't protect your players.
"While we're very pleased for Tom, it left us with nothing.
"Something needs to be done because we're running a Centre of Excellence, just like the full-time, professional clubs.
"There's no point us putting a lot of time and effort into developing a player and then they go for nothing."
Newton does not have to look far to see the potential cash Boston are missing out on under the current legislation.
Last season, Grimsby Town, then still a Football League club, are believed to have received a six-figure fee for striker Jack Barlow. The 15-year-old was handed a five-year contract with the Hull City, then a Premier League side.
"Grimsby sold a lad who we think is no better then Tom for £100,000," added Newton.
"We would probably rate Tom at that level, but we received nothing.
"If you look at the Conference Premier now, there are big clubs like Darlington, Mansfield and Luton.
"A lot of those clubs are running Centre of Excellence programmes so the picture is changing.
"It's something that does need resolving. There's no justification for a club running a full Centre of Excellence programme when we can't protect our players.
"A couple of Conference clubs have put forward representations to the FA.
"I think the Conference may have moved its position (in favour of changing the rules). It's something we're pursing."
United's head of youth Steve Welsh played a part in Hopper's development at York Street.
He also believes the current system needs overhauling.
"Of course we were very pleased for Tom when he went to Leicester, it was a great opportunity for him," said Welsh.
"But it's galling when the club puts a lot of time, effort and money into a youth system, only to receive nothing when your best players leave.
"If Tom had gone from Lincoln City to Leicester, they would have received a fee, but we got nothing.
"We've got a lot of very good young players at the club and I can see us losing up to half a dozen more this season
