BLUES chief executive Derek Bowden last night insisted clubs should stick within the guidelines given to prevent contracted players being lured away from their clubs.

Derek Davis

BLUES chief executive Derek Bowden last night insisted clubs should stick within the guidelines given to prevent contracted players being lured away from their clubs.

Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Spurs have all been accused of “tapping up” over the summer, but Bowden believes the right rules are already in place.

Bowden said: “The FA and Football League continually update the rules and regulations that govern the game and we support that.

“We need to be supported and protected in the contractual relationships we have with our players.” Bowden was not pointing fingers at any club in particular, but Town are clearly not happy about the speculation surrounding Jon Walters and Stoke City.

He said: “Any attempt at destabilising a player is going to be a concern at any club. We are not particularly concerned about any of ours at the moment as we are building a team for the future.

“Whenever there are rules people try to get round them. No matter how the rules are written or how tight they are people are quite ingenious and will try and find a way around it. The rules are very clear but people can be clever at circumventing time when it suits.”

Bowden insisted the Potters had not made a move for Walters and added: “We have not heard from Stoke and have no desire speak to them directly. We will continue to plough our own furrow and if we do hear from them then we will deal with it but so far it is Radio Silence.”

Bowden also confirmed that Town would continue to search for new signings and manager Jim Magilton has the full support of the board in his quest to buy players.