Chairman Andrew Jenkins with an update from the Football League AGM
Chairman Andrew Jenkins gave us an update from the Football League AGM held in Portugal last week as it was revealed that the use of short-term loan deals is scheduled to be phased out.
He said: “Managing director John Nixon and I attended the Conference and it was two full days of discussions and talks on issues affecting the organisation, followed by the annual AGM.
“Regulations voted on were mainly cosmetic, but we did receive confirmation of a regulation which will affect lower league clubs with regard to our use of short-term loan deals.
“There were 355 such transactions in the Football League last season but, as from the 2016/17 season, this type of loan will not be permitted unless changes at the top level in FIFA bring about a change in attitude. In the mean time we will all plan towards operating without this type of loan system being in place.”
“Another agreement reached was that if a player has not been paid for by a club, as per transfer agreements, then he would not be permitted to play in games for his new club,” he continued. “In addition, any clubs late in making payments within transfer agreements, for a period of 30 days or more during a season, will not be permitted to transfer players for a fee of any type, other than those which involve a sell-on fee.
“This should ensure that clubs who let their players go will receive the payments they are due as and when they hit the targets agreed in the transfer documentation.”
The abandonment of the Blackpool home game against Huddersfield threw up a number of points for discussion, with agreement that all Football League fixtures should be completed in full, including the last game of the campaign.
“In view of the Blackpool game being abandoned, it was decided that a period of four days should be available, after the completion of the last game of the season, to fulfil any fixture the Football League board say needs to be completed or replayed, particularly those which affect promotion or relegation issues,” he explained. “It was also agreed that any players registered via loan or short-term loan agreements would be available to play in the rearranged game.
“This should help to avoid a situation where a game could effectively be written off as abandoned or not completed, with points not being allocated.”
We’ll have more from the AGM over the next few days.
