Transfer windows to commence in lower leagues

By Nathan Jackson
February 2 2005

The Football League is being forced by FIFA to start using the transfer windows for the Coca Cola Football Leagues. After getting out of having to implement them for 3 years, it is feared that a few clubs could possibly go out of business.

When the new transfer windows were introduced, it was only in the Premiership but now the windows are being put into the Coca Cola Football League as well meaning that managers will only have 2 oppurtunities in a season to bolster their squad and then it's done. Keith Alexander is said to be fuming as this as two of City's more recent signings, Jamie McCombe and Martin Carruthurs were both signed outside out the dates for the transfer window meaning we wouldn't have been able to sign them. However, for some clubs it is lucky that the window didn't come in this season. Cambridge United are on the verge of closer and only a last ditch miracle or the big money sale of one of their major players could possibly save them, something that wouldn't have been possible this time next year.

"Disappointingly, we have been unable to gain any furthur concessions and FIFA have now confirmed that revised rules governing the Status and Transfer of Players were recently approved by their governing committee, with the intention that these should be applied universally from next season" quoted Head of Football League Communcations, John Nagle.

So from next season, if a club unexpectedly needs funds or have a major injury crisis outside of the transfer window, they're buggered.