Yorkshire Post clears up transfer deadline thingy

Clubs can exploit loophole with emergency loans

Ian Appleyard
ON FOOTBALL

ANOTHER transfer deadline day is over and suddenly the world of football seems a duller place.
Clubs are banned from spending money on new players for the next four months and an air of stability has briefly returned to the game.
The top stars will be staying where they are – at least until the next transfer window opens on January 1 – which is good news for supporters, especially those wanting better value from a Sheffield United shirt with a No 6 and the word "Jagielka" written across the back.
It is bad news, of course, for football journalists. Especially those who enjoy digging up transfer gossip.
From now until the start of next year, everyone will just have to sit back and enjoy or endure (depending how results go) the current make-up of their favourite squad.
After spending the last few weeks refusing to discuss transfer speculation, the managers can finally relax and talk purely about tactics and team selections again. Mind you, it won't be long before they start complaining about the need to strengthen!
But just how long will it be before the concept of the transfer window is challenged?
In a world where employment law is a major topic of legal debate, surely there is an argument that says a temporary ban on recruitment is unfair on a football club.
If results are suffering because a manager is not allowed to sign new players, it must affect the overall profit of that company.
Inevitably, this will restrict the pay rises available to staff in non-playing areas such as administration, catering, or cleaning.
Why should Manchester United plc or Tottenham Hotspur plc only be allowed to employ new footballers during three months of the calendar year when corporations such as Panasonic, Walmart, or McDonalds can appoint new staff at any time? It is a restriction on the movement of labour.
However, the main reason for having a transfer window is to preserve the principles of fair competition – to stop a club signing a lethal striker just before the deciding game of a season – although that hardly stops clubs with the spending power of Chelsea or Real Madrid from gaining an advantage all year round.
It may test the skills of a manager – his ability to spot a bargain, spend wisely and juggle his finances accordingly – but a temporary halt to buying and selling hardly levels the playing field, not when Chelsea's Roman Abramovich can spend at the rate he does.
Football may evenutally have to stop regarding itself as any different to the rest of the business world. Players will be entitled to serve a period of notice and quit when they like, whether managers like it or not.
Equally, clubs will be able to strengthen on the morning of the Cup final.
It wouldn't go down well with the fair-minded but Bosman changed the rules relating to transfer fees and, if the the lawyers can make this one happen, you bet they will.
For now, however, the transfer window is not going to stop Football League clubs signing players on loan. As reported yesterday, League clubs will still be allowed to sign "emergency cover" (starting from September 7) which is effectively a carte blanche to carry on wheeling and dealing.
With money tight outside the Premiership, loan deals are now far more common than permanent transfers. They carry less risk and offer a quick get out clause if things don't quite work out.
From the point of view of the majority of managers, last night's transfer deadline was only a minor inconveniance.
"Emergency" cover is likely to be needed after anything from a torn calf muscle to broken fingernail. From next Thursday, it will be business as usual.

 

And hence

Ritchie can then go and get a defender and/or striker.

Can't he ?

 

RE: And hence

Radio sheffield seemed certain that you cant do anything for one week. After that you can get loan signings, for a maximum of three months. So if you got one next week, they would have to go back before the next transfer window.

 

RE: And hence

So yes, hopefully Ritchie can go get a centre half.