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The debate rages on about the EFL’s plans to bring in salary caps next season after a significant change to the fine print.
Proposals are on the table that would see Leagues One and Two work to budgets of £2.5million and £1.5m respectively.
A vote, originally set for the end of the month, will now take place on August 6 with the Bradford Telegraph and Argus reporting players signed before that date will only count towards the cap to the tune of £1,300 per week or £68,00 a year for the duration of their contract.
Previously it has been suggested that all existing contracts for players aged over 21 – backdated to June – would count towards the quota.
In Wanderers’ case this impacts on new arrivals Eoin Doyle, Antoni Sarcevic, George Taft and Brandon Comley, with Ian Evatt having moved quickly to strengthen his squad on his arrival as head coach.
League Two Bradford have warned of the consequences of the late change to the plans with clubs trying to shape their squads for next season.
The Bantams are against the proposal, as are League One big-hitters Sunderland, Peterborough and Portsmouth among others.
“They’ve actually made the salary cap essentially irrelevant for at least next season if not beyond,” Bradford’s director of communications and commercial Ryan Sparks told the Telegraph and Argus.
“It has created a loophole which clearly undermines the whole purpose of the salary cap, in my opinion. It appears the EFL are making up the process as they go along and that’s forcing clubs to react to an ever-changing picture. But this may well have come as a result of the pressure we and others have added.
“We’ve spoken to other clubs in League Two at length and there is outrage at this late change to the proposal, which compromises planning.
“There are clubs that have already begun recruiting in this division that weren’t aware this was going to happen, ourselves included.
“Likewise, there are financially-struggling clubs who have been unable to start recruiting, given the uncertainty.
“Those clubs have will have taken some solace from believing players signed after June 30 – by their rivals – would count fully against the proposed salary cap, meaning they would be competing on a relatively level-playing field.
“If you play your cards right, though, the salary cap would not affect you for several years if you signed long-term contracts on certain players.”
Fourth-tier clubs have taken differing approaches in the transfer market so far.
Carlisle are among the clubs to have not made a signing and have indicated they are waiting for clarity on certain issues before confirming new arrivals.
“Other clubs have made announcements, and that’s fine, each club is different, but we’ve said all along that we try to do things in a way that’s best for Carlisle United,” said director of football David Holdsworth.
“With the complications of the lockdown, and furlough, we’ve made the decision that even if we get to the stage where we have pre-contract agreements, or where players are ready to sign with contracts agreed, we won’t take that next step of making official announcements until everything is in place, including the transfer window opening on July 27.
“It’s just that last little bit of patience we ask for as we make sure we’ve got everything finalised and then, probably towards the end of next week, things will start to materialise.”
Wanderers have effectively started from scratch with 14 players out of contract after their relegation from League One.
They also have several players – including Ronan Darcy and Dennis Politic – with first team experience from last season who will not count towards the cap because they are under-21.
Salford are another side who have made moves in the transfer market, bringing in former Whites captain Jason Lowe and ex-Preston skipper Tom Clarke.
Source
Proposals are on the table that would see Leagues One and Two work to budgets of £2.5million and £1.5m respectively.
A vote, originally set for the end of the month, will now take place on August 6 with the Bradford Telegraph and Argus reporting players signed before that date will only count towards the cap to the tune of £1,300 per week or £68,00 a year for the duration of their contract.
Previously it has been suggested that all existing contracts for players aged over 21 – backdated to June – would count towards the quota.
In Wanderers’ case this impacts on new arrivals Eoin Doyle, Antoni Sarcevic, George Taft and Brandon Comley, with Ian Evatt having moved quickly to strengthen his squad on his arrival as head coach.
League Two Bradford have warned of the consequences of the late change to the plans with clubs trying to shape their squads for next season.
The Bantams are against the proposal, as are League One big-hitters Sunderland, Peterborough and Portsmouth among others.
“They’ve actually made the salary cap essentially irrelevant for at least next season if not beyond,” Bradford’s director of communications and commercial Ryan Sparks told the Telegraph and Argus.
“It has created a loophole which clearly undermines the whole purpose of the salary cap, in my opinion. It appears the EFL are making up the process as they go along and that’s forcing clubs to react to an ever-changing picture. But this may well have come as a result of the pressure we and others have added.
“We’ve spoken to other clubs in League Two at length and there is outrage at this late change to the proposal, which compromises planning.
“There are clubs that have already begun recruiting in this division that weren’t aware this was going to happen, ourselves included.
“Likewise, there are financially-struggling clubs who have been unable to start recruiting, given the uncertainty.
“Those clubs have will have taken some solace from believing players signed after June 30 – by their rivals – would count fully against the proposed salary cap, meaning they would be competing on a relatively level-playing field.
“If you play your cards right, though, the salary cap would not affect you for several years if you signed long-term contracts on certain players.”
Fourth-tier clubs have taken differing approaches in the transfer market so far.
Carlisle are among the clubs to have not made a signing and have indicated they are waiting for clarity on certain issues before confirming new arrivals.
“Other clubs have made announcements, and that’s fine, each club is different, but we’ve said all along that we try to do things in a way that’s best for Carlisle United,” said director of football David Holdsworth.
“With the complications of the lockdown, and furlough, we’ve made the decision that even if we get to the stage where we have pre-contract agreements, or where players are ready to sign with contracts agreed, we won’t take that next step of making official announcements until everything is in place, including the transfer window opening on July 27.
“It’s just that last little bit of patience we ask for as we make sure we’ve got everything finalised and then, probably towards the end of next week, things will start to materialise.”
Wanderers have effectively started from scratch with 14 players out of contract after their relegation from League One.
They also have several players – including Ronan Darcy and Dennis Politic – with first team experience from last season who will not count towards the cap because they are under-21.
Salford are another side who have made moves in the transfer market, bringing in former Whites captain Jason Lowe and ex-Preston skipper Tom Clarke.
Source