A Bradford MP will tomorrow call for a national regulator to govern football.

Gerry Sutcliffe, who represents Bradford South, will propose a Commons bill for a watchdog to look after the interests of football supporters.

A member of the Government's All Party Football Group, Mr Sutcliffe will put forward the motion which he says will protect the interest of fans from rising ticket prices and the cost of merchandising.

A keen football fan himself, Mr Sutcliffe said the motion would help the game clean up its image in relation to transfer fees and the role of agents.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "Football should have an independent regulator just like any other large body, such as the water companies.

"The regulator would have the responsibility of investigating genuine complaints about ticket pricing policies and complaints from parents about the cost of merchandise, with team strips often being changed once a year.

"It would also look at who can own clubs and what motivation drives the people who want to run the game. It would look at the rights of media interests to have outright control of clubs."

Mr Sutcliffe will introduce his motion in a Ten Minute Rule Bill, after Prime Minister's question time tomorrow.

During the speech, he will refer to a reduction in the number of amateur teams in Bradford and the decline in football in the city's schools due to a lack of financial support.

He will also tell MPs: "The Football Association is responsible for the rules of the game, but it's failed miserably to protect and act in the best interests of all who have supported the game in its many forms.''

But the motion has had a luke-warm reception from John Dewhirst, a former editor of Bradford City's award-winning fanzine City Gent.

He said: "No-one forces someone to buy a team shirt and if it is for a child then the chances are they will have grown out of it in two years anyway so will need a new one.''

He added: "A regulatory body would need real power or the chances of it achieving anything would be very little."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.