YORK City midfielder Nick Richardson insists the Professional Footballers' Association cash row with the Premier League is about the welfare of lower league players.

As the threat of strike action moves closer, Richardson, the PFA's rep at Bootham Crescent, has spoken in defence of the work of the union, claiming it is a vital support network for players at the bottom of the pile.

He insists the money at the centre of the row is not wanted for the players' pockets, but to retrain, educate and support those less fortunate than the ones with multi-million pound contracts.

Richardson has good reason to be grateful to the PFA, after it helped in his rehabilitation from a cruciate knee operation when a player with Chester City. It is also giving him financial support as he studies for a degree as he prepares for life after football.

"After my cruciate operation it was thanks to the PFA that I was able to go to Lilleshall," said Richardson.

"They pay for a number of places at Lilleshall every week and clubs can ring up and book a place for a player.

"It's in the region of about £400 a week and when I went it was for about four weeks. That is obviously a lot of money for a small club who wouldn't otherwise be able to pay that sort of money.

"It's good for the players, who get the best treatment and they can also mix with other lads who are perhaps recovering from similar injuries.

"I think Christian Fox has realised the benefit of it just recently."

Richardson added: "The PFA actively encourage lads to study to prepare for when their careers come to an end, whether it is because their careers are cut short through injury or due to retirement.

"I've been doing a degree since I was 29 through the Open University and it covers about two-thirds of the course fees which is a considerable sum."

Richardson also cited examples of when the PFA has stepped into the breach to help cash-strapped clubs pay players' wages, as has happened at places like Scarborough, Hull and Chesterfield only recently.

And he claims the support of the PFA continues long after players have retired, often paying for expensive surgery to remedy injuries suffered during their careers.

"A lot of the heroes of the past owe a lot to what the PFA does now, " he said.

Richardson believes it is significant the threat of strike action is coming from the game's top stars and underlines the depth of feeling.

"The PFA helps players down the bottom who are going to have to work again.

"Some of those at the top of course won't have that to worry about working again but that is the good thing about this.

"We have got their backing and they are the lads least likely to benefit from the monies."

He added: "I think a strike is possible.

"There are a few chairmen up at the top who obviously begrudge the money going to the PFA and they possibly believe the players will be split, if only because of the amount of foreign players there are now, especially in the Premier League.

"But I think it is a solid union and we will come through in the end."

Updated: 09:01 Thursday, September 27, 2001