Mascot strike threat rocks football

England's football mascots could go on strike in protest against the Football League's plans to bring in a code of conduct for their behaviour.

York City's furry feline Yorkie the Lion, also known as Alex Bedingham, is leading the calls for industrial action.

"If they're going to give us some guidelines on our behaviour, we have some demands of our own," he told BBC Sport Online.

The mascots want an improvement in their working environment and are campaigning for better changing facilities and expenses for travelling to games.

"Some clubs you go to treat us like crap, at Darlington we even had to pay to get in," fumed Yorkie.

"There's a lot of us who don't get a penny for our work."

Mascot mauling: Zampa and Cyril come to blows

Mascots have come under fire for a string of outrageous antics which have prompted the Football League to take action.

Bury mascot Robbie the Bobby tops the bad behaviour list for this season after being sent off a staggering three times.

Swansea's Cyril the Swan was once handed a £1,000 fine for a solo pitch invasion and infamously ripped the head off Millwall's Zampa the Lion, before drop-kicking it into the crowd last season.

The there's Wolverhampton's Wolfie, who once enthralled the Molineux faithful by starting a fight with all three of Bristol City's pigs.

But, despite these tales of mascot mayhem, Yorkie believes the colourful creatures deserve a break.

"We get a bit cheeky, but none of us are out to cause trouble. You don't see us doing the good stuff like visiting schools and hospitals."

A deal must be reached soon or the National Union of Mascots will ballot their members on strike action.

And football's bosses should take heed, as Yorkie says the mascots are definitely "semi-serious".