Portsmouth goalkeeper David James has called for performance-related pay.
The 37-year-old England international is concerned by the rising cost of the game for the supporters.
"I'd like more bonus-related contracts in football," James told the Daily Mirror, adding there had been times when Pompey had not tried hard enough.
"Some supporters have taken six hours to get home. Think of the pain of going up to Blackburn and watching a miserable performance."
606: DEBATE
Mick McGuire, the deputy chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, predicted there was little likelihood of performance-related pay being introduced in the Premier League.
"It's about the quality of the individual you're dealing with," said McGuire.
"If you're a top club looking to bring in a top international it's not possible. He's got three clubs after him - he's going to take the club who best reflect his quality.
"To maximise your income is everybody's right and players at the top end of the scale have every right to do that.
"At the other level we've nearly 20% of our workforce looking for work every year.
"There's a lot of one-year contracts offered and when you're looking every year you're not in a massive negotiating position anyway."
But the proposal has won support from Alan Boore, deputy chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation.
"As more and more performance-related pay is coming into other professions, why not football?" said Boore.
"It should be on a voluntary basis whereby players who do not think they have played well offer to repay some of their wages.
"That would encourage them to take more responsibility for bad performances.
"If a player is performing to a standard which justifies his pay then that should be reflected in their wage packet"
James conceded there have been a handful of games this term during which Portsmouth had not tried hard enough, including their 3-0 defeat at Blackburn.
"There have been two or three games where we have been found wanting in the trying department," said James.
"The football supporter is having to fork out more and more cash on kits, matches and travel. There is much more burden on fans nowadays.
"If a player is performing to a standard which justifies his pay, then that should be reflected in their wage packet."