Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale has warned of "potential disaster" for small clubs if the row between football's world and European governing bodies means the current transfer system cannot be saved.

Ridsdale spent £18 million on England defender Rio Ferdinand last November despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of the transfer market.

And yesterday he attacked FIFA's proposal to allow a club or player to tear up a contract at three months' notice.

UEFA have threatened to go it alone in talks with the European Commission over the transfer system - under threat as the Treaty of Rome grants all European citizens freedom of employment - after blasting football's world governing body's stance as "unacceptable".

"I can't believe FIFA have come forward with that proposal because players willingly enter into a contract and that contract is for a period of time that is mutually agreed by the two parties," Ridsdale said.

"Does that give the club the right to say that, if a player has two bad games, they can tear up the contract?"

FIFA last night released a statement defending their position but also recognised the need to find common ground with the Commission. "FIFA wishes to state that the regulations against which the European Commission had raised objections are FIFA regulations," said the statement.

"For this reason, the world governing body has to make sure that its relevant provisions are both globally valid and not in violation of existing national legislation."

Meanwhile, Jaap Stam yesterday revealed he wants to stay with Manchester United for the rest of his career. The 28-year-old Dutch international defender made a winning return to first-team action on Saturday at Bradford, following surgery on an Achilles injury in September.

And he told the club's official website: "I don't see another club being a step up. I would love to play out my career at Old Trafford - you feel you are making history here."

United yesterday confirmed they could choose a foreign coach to replace Alex Ferguson when he retires next season.

The Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel completed his £9.5 million sterling move from River Plate of Argentina to Aston Villa yesterday, a transfer that will silence, at least temporarily, the fans' rising dissatisfaction with Chairman Doug Ellis.

Blackburn's Republic of Ireland defender Jeff Kenna has asked for a transfer after failing to hold down a place in the first division team since recovering from injury.