Fmope's minor leagues could face near extinction following confirmation here on Wednesday that a second-tier Furoleague' is a step closer to reality.

The Furoleague, also known as the Atlantic league, is a bid by the top clubs in some of (he smaller European nations to leave their domestic leagues and play each other at weekends.

Speaking to delegates at the Football Expo conference in Cannes. Peter l essen, director of Dutch club PSV Eindhoven insisted the Atlantic League was the only way forward for the top clubs in Holland. Scotland, Portugal, Sweden. Denmark and Belgium.

The feeling is growing that the big clubs in the smaller leagues can no longer guarantee their places in the Champions league or compete with the richer clubs any longer," Fosscn said.

We cannot sil still. We have to do something. The problem with smaller clubs comes with matches at the weekend. They do not generate enough money or interest.

"Our fans want to see us playing the likes of Manchester United. Not only are the best players moving away from the smaller countries but the next best players arc leaving as well.

We want to stay within a UEFA framework and believe we can make the new league work. However, the response from UEFA so far has been negative.

"UEFA have listened to the problem and say they understand it bul they do not seem ready to want to listen to our solution."

Bui the spectre of a breakaway super league by Europe's top clubs has receded.

PSV are one of the group ol G14 super clubs', which includes Manchester United and Liverpool.

and Fossen insists a breakaway super league is not on their agenda.

"I met G14's general manager Thomas Kurth, and he said it's absolutely sure that the English and Germans will never leave their national leagues because they are of such great value to the clubs," he said.

Fosscn wants the Champions League to be open to just clubs from the big five' of Italy. Spain. England, Germany and France along with the most successful clubs in a Euroleague.

The clubs who want to be involved in the Euroleague are: Celtic. Rangers (Scotland), Ajax. PSV, Feyenoord (Holland), Benfica, Sporting Lisbon (Portugal). Anderlecht. Bruges (Belgium), Gothenburg. AIK Stockholm (Sweden), Brondby and FC Copenhagen (Denmark).

I ossen said the Euroleague would make competitions such as the Scottish Premier League more competitive, as Cehn and Rangers would no longer be (here lo dominate it.

However, there would still be opportunities for promotion and relegation to and from the I u-roleaguc.

He added: "The new league would fill a place between the domestic leagues and the Champions League, with promotion and relegation.

"It is now make or break. We arc very optimistic there is a way forward, otherwise the very unsatisfactory status quo can only continue and gel worse lor players, fans and (he clubs."

The Euroleague clubs hove had linle joy from UEFA In (he past. If European football's governing body wish to maintain their position they may be forced to make changes lo the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

One Idea would see the Cham pions League slimmed down to

just one league round rather than two. and the

UEFA Cup adopting the same format rather than just being a straight knock-out tournament.