Yes, I know I keep banging on about it and you're probably sick of reading my posts on the topic but I really feel it matters and that it deserves its own thread.
As things currently stand we are not allowed to sign anyone. At all. Not even a player who offered his services for free.
While I appreciate that the transfer window doesn't officially open until July 1st I believe we should be worried about it right now for several reasons.
1. As you all know many transfer deals are actually negotiated long before the window opens. They are often completed and announced as "A. Player will sign for A. Club on 1st July for x fee on a y year deal." All that happens on the 1st July is the paperwork is formally filed, the deal was actually done weeks or even months (in the case of pre-contract agreements) before. I have no doubt that many clubs are already talking to potential targets and in several cases formal negotiations are well underway if not complete. We're already likely to be running behind the pack.
2. Some people seem to think we're making such approaches ourselves anyway and telling our targets that the embargo will be sorted in time but if you were a footballer's agent or a footballer would you accept such an assurance? Would you be willing to engage in negotiations that might drag on for weeks with a club that may well not be able to honour any deal you make? Or will you talk to clubs who can close the deal immediately?
3. The club's silence on this issue is puzzling to say the least. Frankly if the new owners are to truly have any credibility then this should have been their first priority after the tax bill was settled. Ken Anderson might talk about us having a 'competitive' budget for League One but there's no point in it while the embargo remains, something he was curiously and conspicuously silent about during that interview.
4. If I was a manager being approached by Bolton Wanderers about the job then I'd be extremely wary about taking it while the club is under embargo. Given the way Neil Lennon was lied to about funds being available and the way the loan deal went south after he'd agreed terms with the player only to be told the money wasn't there after all would set off alarm bells in my head, especially given that the new owners have remained so quiet about how and when the embargo might be lifted.
5. Several of our players are out of contract this summer and no matter how bad they might be if we can't replace them at all then we're going to be severely hampered by a threadbare squad next season unless we get incredibly lucky with injuries and suspensions. Worse still, some of the players who aren't out of contract are on such ridiculous wages for League One that we may have to sell some of our more promising youngsters like Clough just to fund the so-called 'stars' salaries in order to avoid breaching FFP rules again.
For all of those reasons and a few others I honestly feel that the embargo is not just detrimental to the club now but potentially very damaging to our prospects for next season and beyond. I believe that every day it remains in place it does more damage to our credibility let alone our ability to attract and recruit the kind of quality we're going to need if only to stop the slide we're on now let alone actually start climbing the leagues again. Sport Shield absolutely must get their finger out and sort this fast. It should have been done already and the fact they haven't done it and aren't saying anything about it worries me more than any other issue facing the club right now including who the next manager might be.
The Transfer Embargo
posted on 24/4/16
Bob Anderson did say he and deano were working to having the embargo lifted. I would imagine it will be lifted once the wage bill is brought down a certain level. All the first teamers out of contract will be released leaving 15 first teamers still under contract. According to the beano options will be taken to renew holding and woolerys contracts. Some of the younger players will be offered new deals maher, threlkeld, walker. The wage bill will still be too high so unless the likes of spearing, amos, mavies, moxey, trotter, pratley are shifted i don't see the embargo being lifted. Going to take another season to get this under control when by season 2017/18 most of the high earners will be gone. The problem is the club surviving until then which is the priority over signing new players.
posted on 24/4/16
Not to mention BWFC accounts are still over due with Companies House.
posted on 25/4/16
SS look to still have brown as their main target. It could prove to be that the compo will be too much. If they decide to go for him in any event, the likes of Davies and co will have to be moved on for whatever price can be achieved. This would possibly leave a small amount of cash for the manager to spend.
As I see it, we will end up with a few seasoned division one players who know league one, highly supplemented by the young players who have already secured a place in the squad and further young players coming in from the development squad.
I can't see us pushing for promotion next season, it will be a case of regrouping and trying to maintain a place in division one.
That is of course if the embargo can be lifted. It would be possible if and it is an if, the high earners still under contract can be shipped out for fees. If not, it's going to be the development squad plus what is left of the under-performing high earners.
posted on 25/4/16
there are better candidates for the job rhan brown and are out of work. Maybe brown wiill have to force the issue and resign but if I was om the board would advise against it.
posted on 25/4/16
You may well be right Benny but Deano knows Brown and that may count for a lot. I'm not making a case for Brown but I think the connection will play a part. The other matter is if they can afford the compo.
posted on 26/4/16
I really struggle to see how transfer embargoes are legal. They are restrictions of trade, its ridiculous
posted on 27/4/16
comment by BWFCCLEGG (U7583)
posted 5 hours, 11 minutes ago
I really struggle to see how transfer embargoes are legal. They are restrictions of trade, its ridiculous
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Actually mate, if the letter of commercial law was applied our very existence for much of the last four years was illegal. It's an offence for a limited company to continue trading when it's not in a position to cover its outgoings. Effectively this club and many others in the football league are technically 'insolvent' due to expenditure being greater than income.
UEFA and the FA recognised this (it's a Europe wide, possibly World wide problem) and did deals with various governments that got football an exception on the grounds that it was an essential part of national life. Until about twenty years ago many clubs were owned by a single individual who didn't care about profit and loss, the club was a hobby, something he bought either because he'd been a long time fan or it got him some good PR in his 'real' business.
The Premier League era changed all that and it soon became impossible for all but the very richest individuals to own a football club. Now we've seen the size of the gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' widen until the Grand Canyon looks like a pothole. UEFA knew something had to be done and the FFP was their well meaning way to do it. Sadly it's had the opposite effect on levelling the playing field that it was meant to but in its defence it's almost certainly prevented us and a couple of other clubs at least (Portsmouth and Leeds for a start) from being liquidated entirely.
posted on 27/4/16
lpp, good post. At least we are still in business. JUST.
posted on 27/4/16
Slightly off topic. Anyone know whats happening with season tickets. 1st may last year started paying direct debit over 12 months for this years ticket. Nearly 1st now and nothing? Not going to be popular if having less payments but bigger amounts going out every month. Not going to be popular shutting the upper tiers either.
posted on 27/4/16
Actually LPP - the law is that the company cannot trade as a going concern. In the accounts, reference was made to this, that whilst the position showed a net liability position, the beneficial owner (Eddie Davies) continues to provide adequate funding for the foreseeable future. So there was literally nothing remotely illegal about it. Companies can slip into insolvent positions year on year, or over many years, but still with the long term vision of shareholder gain.
What feels illegal about it, is that we now cannot trade, or invest in the very fabric of our business. Its like saying to Volkswagen, sorry you cant buy any more steel to build your cars...Volkswagen would say....well how do i make cars to sell to get out of this position.
Of course there has to be a point where an owner cant continue to prop up a business, but surely theres a better way than restricting trade