PHIL Gartside believes that Premiership clubs are being priced out of the market for home-grown players, as Wanderers face a tribunal over the signing of Delroy Facey.

Although the 22-year-old striker was out of contract at Huddersfield Town, UEFA laws mean that clubs signing a player under the age of 23 must pay a compensatory fee.

Despite the fact that Facey has never played above First Division level, Town chairman David Taylor expects a "proper" bid from Wanderers.

Taylor said: "We received our fourth offer from Bolton last Friday afternoon. However, their offer is still just 20 per cent of what we expect.

"In my view Bolton's is not a proper valuation considering that we have brought Delroy through for almost ten years.

"We have no option but to go to tribunal."

The struggle to arrange a deal between the two clubs backs up Gartside's views that it is becoming increasingly difficult to buy British, noting the price of lower league players compared to those brought in from abroad.

He said: "We went in for a First Division player and the price was £3.5 million.

"He wanted a five-year contract at £500,000 a year, so that makes him a £6 million investment.

"We have brought in Jay-Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff and Bulent Akin for that money put together.

"Because top local talent is so scarce prices go through the roof.

"People say we should stop signing foreigners but the system is against us."