Mr Wells' daughter, Holly, was murdered by Ian Huntley

The Football Association (FA) has drawn up the initiative in a bid to protect young players from child abuse.

Kevin Wells, whose daughter Holly was murdered by Ian Huntley, said the checks "can only be a good thing".

Mr Wells, a junior football coach, will address the FA's annual conference on child protection on Tuesday.

The initiative applies to both amateur and professional clubs.

Mr Wells told BBC Radio Five: "This is the kind of attitude and far-reaching approach that I am happy to endorse.

Deterrent?

"For our loss back in Soham we had the Bichard Inquiry and we hope that will be a suitable memorial for both Holly and Jessica.

"We cannot guarantee that they will not slip through the net, but getting these criminal record checks in place can only be a good thing."

Mr Wells, who is a qualified referee as well as a coach, rejected the notion that the initiative could deter people from taking up coaching.

He said he expected people to "embrace this change".

The FA already has a programme aimed at safeguarding children.

Bichard findings

Other speakers at Tuesday's event, at Derby County's Pride Park, will include the FA's head of Child Protection, Tony Pickerin, and Phillip Noyes from the NSPCC.

Mr Pickerin said: "We will be concentrating on findings from the Bichard Inquiry that impact on football, along with the importance of listening to and empowering young people, as well as considering issues and lessons."

Mr Wells is already patron of Grief Encounter, a charity which supports bereaved children.

Ian Huntley was jailed for life for murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, who were both 10, in August 2002.

Huntley, who worked as a school caretaker, was employed without being subjected to thorough reference checks.