AT their annual conference in Portugal next week, perhaps Football League chairmen should take a leaf out of Sepp Blatter's book.

Although the fat cats from the Premier League and the bureaucrats from the European Union may disagree, an argument for FIFA's six-plus-five does add up.

When the proposal was first mooted, FIFA president Blatter outlined his plans to limit the number of foreign players in the top flight.

His grand design made provision for teams to comprise six homegrown players and five from other countries.

Followers of Olympic Manchester United, Sporting Arsenal, FC Chelsea and Athletico Liverpool shuddered in their respective boots.

But although England will be conspicuous by their absence at Euro 2008 and last season's Premier League saw the lowest number of English-qualified players start, Blatter's blueprint is unlikely to ever see the light of day.

While talk of bringing back quotas on foreign players will now be put on the back-burner, maybe Football League chairmen should consider a version of six-plus-five in the lower divisions.

How about three under-21s plus eight pros or two under-18s plus nine pros?

The maths are largely irrelevant, it is the concept which could be crucial.

Quotas could be different for clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two, but a move towards teams fielding a given number of young players could give the game the kiss of life.

Stockport County's success in the League Two play-off final was also a victory for youth development.

Having planted the seeds a couple of years ago, boss Jim Gannon saw his fledglings blossom on the Wembley stage to see off Rochdale.

"I hope that we become a role model for all clubs at this level," said Gannon. "Over the past two years, we have brought through a group of young players who, in the right circumstances, play really good, effective football.

"It would be nice to keep them together but I think some of them are destined for great things. We play young players and that is what our level of football should be about.

"It should be a breeding ground for good footballers and good football, not full of journeymen playing out time on their careers."

And therein could lie the answer to the alarming financial crunch that seems to be threatening the lifeblood of the game in the lower reaches.

Young players come cheap and football followers up and down the country like nothing more than to see local boys make good.

What is the point in investing heavily in youth development and then fielding a side consisting of 11 players from elsewhere?

Being forced to blood centre of excellence graduates could also see a dramatic reduction in activ-ity in the loan market, another draw on club's purse strings.

Sam Vokes was the latest product of the Dean Court conveyor belt to prove the theory. Given his head as a raw 17-year-old due to a crippling injury crisis, the striker went from strength to strength before earning a big-money move to Wolves last month.

It was Alan Hansen who once said "you can't win anything with kids". Stockport fans would beg to differ. Bring on Ryan Pryce, Joe Partington and Josh McQuoid!