OLDHAM Athletic's multi-millionaire chairman Chris Moore has been in the game only for a few months but he has already come to one conclusion - the big boys are suffocating the life out the little clubs.

He explained: ''When it comes to money, there just isn't enough coming down to the lower divisions.

''It means the rich are getting richer and the others are losing out. It is killing the game at grass roots level.''

Moore, 46, has a keen interest in finances having started his professional life as an acountant in the water works department of the old Manchester Corporation.

He went on to build Torex plc, a computer giant employing 1,500 people.

Call for change

''I am a businessman just into the sport and finding out what it is like behind the scenes,'' he said. ''But already I do know the game needs to change, certainly in the lower divisions. And it has to change significantly.

''When I saw the share-out of the television money alone it made me realise more than ever how important it is to get promotion.

''It needs to be spread out more evenly - there is just nowhere near enough to support the lower level clubs. It is stupid, absolutely ludicrous.

''Because the top clubs have so much wealth they are bringing in foreign stars which means the door is being closed on our own players.

''Clubs can't rely on selling players because there is nowhere for them to go.

''When was the last big-money signing from the Second or Third Divisions?

''Oldham is a big club in the wrong division and when we go up I won't forget what it is like.''

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