Reading have backed the City chairman's ambitious plans for a new rebel league.

The Royals, who have lost to York for the past two seasons in the FA Cup, have yet to see Batchelor's proposal in full, but they are keen to hear that it would involve a set pay structure.

Batchelor wants the rebel competition to control admission prices at every club, with 50 per cent of the receipts being handed to the league to pay players' wages and to form a slush fund to help troubled sides in the future.

The new-look league, which Batchelor wants all 72 current League clubs to join, plus Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers, would pay a set wage to players in each division - with clubs able to top up that payment if they wanted.

Reading chief executive Nigel Howe told the Evening Press: "We have been in favour of a player wage structure for a long time.

"We are not saying there should be a salary cap or a minimum wage, but restrictions should be in place. We believe it should be down to the club's income and echo what has been done in rugby union."

Howe, whose side won promotion to Division One last season, believes that any plans for change would not be without its problems.

"What we have seen from the ITV Digital collapse is that is very difficult for any serious decisions made when you have got any chairman, and even some chief executives, having their say," he said.

"Every club has got its own agenda - so the problem is to get everyone to agree to the ideas."

Howe also added that the Players Football Association would have to be involved in any deal.

"Anything that is done to control wages should be done with the help of the PFA," he added.

Updated: 11:55 Wednesday, September 04, 2002