I saw an article on here last night which got me thinking a bit more about the transfer embargo we are now under.
Its been widely reported that we cant sign players now until January 2014 as the embargo lasts from the 1st of September 2012 to the 1st of September 2013 and covers the next two transfer windows.
I had totally forgotten that free agents can sign for clubs outside of the transfer window until this week with all the chat about Michael Owen.
So, what I'm saying is, we should be able to sign free agents the day our transfer embargo ends in September 2013.
I really doubt we would have been looking to spend any cash on players anyway next year and the free agent market would be where we would be looking so I dont see the transfer embargo really being a big deal.
Every one of the players we signed this summer were free agents except for David Templeton.
Would it even be possible for us to sign players on pre contract agreements this January and sign them once their contract expires in the summer and our embargo ends?
Anyone got any idea if there are any decent SPL players out there whos contracts are due to expire next summer?
Is the Transfer Embargo Pointless?
posted on 4/9/12
The ban runs to September next year only so we could get frees in in September. Thing is tho, any decent ones will be long gone
posted on 4/9/12
We can sign Messi, Ronaldo and Iniesta but we can't register them until 1 Jan 2014 !! And if Green has agreed not to sign frees etc we're donald ducked til then.
posted on 4/9/12
The only stuff I have read from Rangers web site has been the registration ban on over 18s runs until midnight 31st August next year.
So yes, we can sign free agents next September, and pre contracts with anyone at any time.
And under 18s at any time now onwards.
posted on 4/9/12
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posted on 4/9/12
What i dont get is why the SFA decided (after a transfer ban was deemed unlawful) to make it a condition of our membership.
Surely the 3 years in the lower leagues was enough, without them imposing a draconian punishment?
What exactly do the SFA get out of it?
posted on 4/9/12
As I said - no BUYING until Jan 2014, signing free agents from Sept 1st 2013 is ok, and signing u18s anytime is ok.
posted on 4/9/12
So yes, we can sign free agents next September, and pre contracts with anyone at any time.
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Again, you're wrong here.
We can't sign anyone on a pre-contract, because the transfer window closes shut on 31st August and we will be unable to register anyone after this date...
If they have become a free agent in the meantime, and there's no development fees etc involved, then maybe, just maybe, we might be able to sign someone.
That's wishful thinking for someone to put their career on hold and not bother looking at other options though, when we can't offer them a guaranteed registration. Other teams can easily jump in and get them signed up before the window closes, because we will be unable to offer anything concrete.
posted on 4/9/12
Signing a contract and registering the player are two completely separate things.
In theory you could come Jan 2013, sign a player on a pre contract, on the basis he would be registered 1st Sept 2013, by which time his contract would have run down (and a pre contract is only available when player is in last 6 months of his contact anyway).
Whether any player would agree to miss out on the first 5-6 weeks of the season is another thing.
But you can be sure that as the SFA is involved in this, there will be innumerable ways around it.
posted on 4/9/12
We should be able to sign 'unattached' players from Sept 13, but we cannot buy a player, then just not register him till Sept, he has to be unattached to a club when the window shuts.
Not sure if we can sign someone ona pre-contract, if their contract is due to expire next summer. i.e. Their contract runs out in July, they sit around for a month knowing they have a deal lined up with us.
Pre-contract might rely on there being no gap in the employment periods.
posted on 4/9/12
Exactly what was said last night if a player like Broadfoot now free of a club next year could sign for us in Sept 2013. Now it becomes interesting for any player that wants to join Rangers next summer