Clough wants transfer window dissolved after Premier League change

(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)

By Alex Beard

Now that the dust has settled on the Premier League’s decision to close the transfer window before the start of the new season, it begs the question of whether the Football League will follow suit?

The Premier League confirmed yesterday that an agreement had been made between all clubs to close the transfer window for buying players on Thursday August 9 next season.

That would mean that top flight clubs would be unable to purchase new players once the playing season has begun. However, they are still permitted to sell players to other leagues who have not implemented such a policy – the Football League for example.

So what do bosses in the non-Premier League bubble think about such a decision? Well, Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough wants to go one step further.

“I don’t see why we have a window,” he said.

“I would just leave it like it used to be, where clubs could trade and have a little spell, there used to be a cut off in April or March, the last Thursday in March, and you couldn’t sign anybody after that.

“It gives you the freedom to do loans, which helps everybody with flexibility and budgets, and I don’t see why we have to have a window at our level.

“I can understand at the highest level in the Premier League and Europe they’ve got to do that, but I don’t think it helps everybody.”

A radical solution, then, from the Brewers boss. The Championship appears to be moving towards adopting the same policy as the Premier League, so unfortunately for Clough his dream scenario may still be some way off.