MP CHRISTINE Russell says clubs such as Chester City FC could benefit from a Government report which this week called for a radical redistribution of football's finances.

Premiership stars could face wage cuts to aid smaller clubs, following the conclusion of the All Party Football Group's inquiry into the beautiful game.

For Mrs Russell, the report represents the conclusion of a wide-ranging inquiry in which she questioned 42 witnesses.

The report, which could shake up the way the Premier League, Football League and Conference League are run, will urge the FA to make changes.

Mrs Russell - the only woman MP who sat on the inquiry - wants to see tighter guidelines to protect clubs bought by millionaires such as Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, who bought Chelsea FC, and Terry Smith, the former owner of Chester City.

Mrs Russell wants the FA to implement protection for ground staff when the millionaires pull the plug.

She says Premiership clubs are wrong to keep so much television cash and wants them to follow the recommendations of a 5% levy to lower divisions.

'It can't be right that so much money goes to the elite few,' she said.

'The question is whether Manchester United, the richest club in the world, would miss an extra one or even two per cent. I suggest they wouldn't.'

The report also found 69% of clubs wanted further restrictions on wages, 90% said agents needed more regulation and 93% said agents were taking too much money out of the game.

Though the report has no real power, Mrs Russell believes the FA and Premiership clubs are 'duty bound' to listen.

'I think they will take notice of our investigations,' she said.

'We have managed to persuade the FA to begin their own review, which will start in the new year.

'In English football the gap between the rich and poor is getting wider and wider and that is not good for the game.'

Mrs Russell, who would like to see player wage-capping, volunteered to join the inquiry.

She said: 'Before I took part I was a fan who had a little understanding. Having spent 12 months looking at football's finances, I am far better informed.'

Mrs Russell, who also wants to see fans involved at board level, says a number of changes are needed to help small clubs. They include:

Putting small club grounds into the hands of independent trusts to protect them from the whims of rich owners.

Putting guidelines in place to protect ground staff from the sudden departure of club chairmen/owners.

Mrs Russell, who supports Manchester United and Chester City, said: 'If implemented, the report's recommendations would clearly benefit the smaller clubs like Chester City.'

The report makes clear, however, that all professional clubs must meet tougher corporate governance standards.

Mrs Russell said: 'It is not good enough just to throw money at lower league clubs without reforms to ensure that they're better run in future.

'We challenge the FA to introduce, with immediate effect, a 'fit and proper person' test with respect to anyone who wants to run a football club.'