A Belgian court ruled in his favour, too late for the Dunkirk deal to be resurrected, but his determination to win damages carried the case through to the European Court.Bosman has played since, but only for lowly clubs. When they refused, Liege pulled out of the deal, and cut Bosman's wages by 75 per cent to pounds 500 per month.Desperate to get away and feeling he had effectively been blacklisted, Bosman went to law. Quite an achievement for a player who was not considered aggressive enough. In 1990 Bosman, who had been bought by Liege for pounds 66,000 two years earlier but who had fallen out of favour at the Belgian club, thought he would move across the border into France at the end of his contract and play for Dunkirk.Using Belgium's player-evaluation system Liege set a fee of about pounds 500,000 on him and insisted that the French team pay in full up front. It was disgust at his treatment by FC Liege five years ago that led him down the legal path, ending, possibly, with administrators, clubs and players facing a whole new ball game. Jean-Marc Bosman, who failed to fulfil the initial promise he showed as a midfielder and captain of the Belgian youth side, is an unlikely revolutionary.

He is still every inch the footballer with his wiry frame, close-cropped hair and racing green BMW convertible. Mid- contract moves would still incur transfer fees, though future legal challenges could reduce these to a fee worked out by a formula, not market prices.. a transfer fee), to be worked out by negotiation between the clubs or by a tribunal.If a player leaves in mid-contract, the selling club is entitled to a fee, which is negotiated with the buying club.At the end of his contract a player rejects an offer of new terms and signs for another club His former club receives no compensation. People will be looking at transfer fees to decide whether or not it is worth investing the money in players who may be able to walk away at the end of short-term contracts."The fear factor, page 27How the transfer system works in BritainAt the end of his contract a player is entitled to a free transfer unless the new terms at least equal those of his previous deal.If he still leaves, the club is entitled to compensation (i.e.

I think the little clubs will benefit."One such club, Wrexham, have their doubts. David Rhodes, their club's managing director said: "I think the next six months will be very difficult for football. In any other business, when a contract's over, it's over."Doubts over the survival of lower-division clubs were "monster rubbish", Hall maintained. "What these clubs must do is try to sign 17-year-olds on eight-year contracts If they're any good they'll be sold at a nice profit. Eric Hall, agent for several England players, did not hide his elation at the news "It was time managers and chairmen came into the real world.