Albion boss Peter Taylor has reacted cautiously to plans which would radically change the transfer system in English football.

Taylor is concerned that the scheme to restrict buying and selling to the close season and January could lead to clubs like Albion over-stretching themselves in the summer.

The professional football committee of UEFA, made up of 11 leagues in Europe including the English Premiership, backed the concept at a meeting in Switzerland this week.

It goes before UEFA's executive committee next week for final approval and the new rules could be in place as soon as the 2002-2003 season.

The system already operates in Italy and Spain and is expected to filter down to the Football League in England.

It would prevent the timing of transfers like the pre-Christmas deals Taylor has been negotiating this week to bring in 18-year-old Daniel Webb from Southend and let Andy Crosby leave for Oxford.

UEFA hope the transfer windows will bring more stability to the market, but Taylor warned: "It means you might have to stock up more than you need to at the start of the season and that means more money again.

"I think also they would have to give a lot of warning before it first comes in."

Meanwhile, Taylor believes David Beckham has learnt from the last World Cup and that England can progress from the so-called group of death in Japan next summer.

Sven Goran Eriksson's men have been paired against his native Sweden, Nigeria and favourites Argentina.

Beckham was famously sent-off for kicking out at Argentina's Diego Simeone when the countries clashed in the last World Cup.

Taylor, who made Beckham captain prior to Eriksson's appointment, said: "David has come on an incredible amount since then, not only as a player but as a captain, so he will love it.

"We've got confident players in the squad and they will look forward to that Argentina game as a big test. They are the strongest opponents, but we should have beaten them in 1998.

"Sven will know it's a very difficult group and it could have been kinder, but he also knows we have got a tremendous bunch of players."

The World Cup will not impact on Taylor's Albion duties if, as widely anticipated, Eriksson enlists him in a scouting role.

England face Sweden on June 2, Argentina on June 7 and Nigeria on June 12. The Seagulls' season will be over, at the very latest, by May 12 even if they are involved in the play-off final.

The final of the World Cup is on June 30 and the new domestic season does not kick-off until early August.