Toronto Pool looks at the loan system that is employed in todays game…
Emergency Loans…
Now the transfer window has closed, we have no speculation to thrive upon. There is just the possibility of bringing in “emergency” loans. These loans – bizarre. When introduced, The FA stated that they would be used only in an emergency. If a team were struggling to fill a place. Say if Danny Coid was injured on the Friday before a game, we could bring in a right back that day on loan for the duration of his injury. It just does not work like this! Take Ian Morris last season as an example. How long was he here? From around October to the end of the season. Jesus, I wonder who was injured? Perhaps it was an under 11 academy player out for a long spell, so we had to draft in a winger? It goes to show what a mess The FA is! I don`t know the exact rules, but surely the club must have to show that they`re in an emergency? Clubs should really be using the ineptness of the football association to their benefits.
We`ve missed out on targets last month, that`s a well known fact. If I were manager of BFC, I`d be planning ahead for January. Why can we not bend the rules and sign players for 3 months, leading up to January and then sign them permanently? Maybe this is what the club should have done last year with players such as Morris, who signed for Scunthorpe United recently.
If “we are aiming at premiership players” (quoted from Simon Grayson) then they`re not going to be so good that they`re holding down starting places at their club now. These players will, most of them time, be allowed to leave on loan, with all the recall clauses etc in the deal, with a view to moving in January. Take Simon Gillett as an example (although Southampton aren`t in The Premiership obviously!). We`re trying to get him on a six month loan. Does this mean that he`ll sign in January? Or that he`ll go back in February?
A perfect scenario: Blackpool approach Sunderland for striker Chris Brown, asking whether they can loan him on an emergency deal until the January transfer window? They also ask whether or not Sunderland are willing to sell?
Roy Keane replies: “Yes, he`s not needed here”
Niall Quinn asks Keane: “Roy, what the?” actually, on second thoughts I wont!
So after Keane says he can be sold, we offer 100K as a future fee. This would mean that Brown signs on loan until January, then would sign for 100K at the end of his loan. Sunderland accept. Everyone`s happy. AND, Simon Grayson also has the option of saying no to signing him. In effect, he`s a trialist who can play in league games. So if he isn`t good enough, he can just be sent back after his loan, and BFC wouldn`t have to pay anything.
That for me would be how to do business. Maybe it isn`t that simple!
*The perfect scenario is a scenario, and not based on fact.*
