Crystal Palace left Furious as Spurs get Bostock on the Cheap

A Football League Tribunal decision to allow promising youngster John Bostock, 16, to move to Tottenham Hotspur for just £700,000 rising to £1.25m has angered Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan.

Bostock has been heralded as a future England international and was subject to a £900,000 bid from Chelsea when he was just 14. Barcelona have also been long-term admirers.

Jordan's outspoken views on a number of issues have made him a figure that many football fans love to hate. However, it is almost impossible not to feel sympathy for him and his club.

The tribunal's job was to reflect the valuation of the player in the current transfer market. It is not difficult to see that they have not done their job properly especially when you consider the £5m that Arsenal paid for Cardiff's Aaron Ramsey, 17.

Jordan's disappointment not only centres around the derisory fee his club will receive for one of the most exciting talents their academy has ever produced, but also the fact that this could set a dangerous precedent for the future.

It sends a message to smaller clubs that there's no real point in developing youth team players as the "bigger clubs can come along at any time and do what the hell they like."

The tribunal system must endeavor to protect the interests of smaller clubs. The youth development program in England is already faltering and there has to be incentives and fair compensation for the clubs producing these youngsters.

Otherwise smaller clubs like Crystal Palace will stop developing their youth policies in the knowledge they will have their players snapped up without the safety net of supportive tribunals.

This decision is not only bad for Simon Jordan and Crystal Palace, but also perhaps for English football fans. Spurs also signed Wayne Routledge from Crystal Palace in 2005, but he struggled to make an impact and was farmed out on loan to Fulham and Portsmouth. He is currently at Aston Villa, where he has also struggled to get a regular starting place.

The fear is that the same could happen to Bostock as he certainly won't be playing first-team football immediately at White Hart Lane. It must be hoped that, now Spurs have got their way, they help to progress this talented youngsters career.

Spurs now have a responsibility towards Bostock and they mustn't allow his undoubted talent to stagnate. He wanted to play for the club and they must continue the hard work put in by Crystal Palace.