FAI say junior players
must stay until end of their season
JUNIOR players hoping to make the step from the
Inishowen or Donegal leagues to the Ulster Senior
League for their new Summer season will not be
permitted to do so until their own leagues are first
completed.
The introduction of the Summer soccer season for the
Ulster Senior League has caused uncertainty in
relation to the movement of players between the
various leagues, but Ulster FA Administrator Herbie
Barr confirmed yesterday he had sought clarification
from the FAI on the matter.
“There have been several queries raised by clubs and
leagues in recent weeks so I sought clarification
from the FAI. They have said that players cannot
move from a junior league after the transfer season
which was on January 31 and that means players are
committed to stay with their current club until
their junior club’s season has finished.”
According to the Ulster FA Administrator some clubs
had also asked if registrations could be cancelled
but said the FAI had made it clear that cancellation
of registration is only permitted for professional
players.
The clarification is unlikely to be welcomed by
Ulster Senior League clubs many of whom may have had
their eye on new signings from junior clubs.
And it is understood that the ruling could also
affect senior clubs Derry City and Finn Harps if
they wish to sign players from junior leagues.
However one high profile signing from the Inishowen
League - the transfer of Gerry Gill from Moville to
Finn Harps - has not been affected.
“We are aware of the difficulties that have arisen
in relation to various league seasons now running
out of synch and it has been an issue in relation to
the signing of players for our youth and Under 20
teams. However as far as the transfer of Gerry Gill
is concerned everything is in order and everything
was agreed between Finn Harps and Moville Celtic and
everything that needed to be signed was signed.”
Gill who started the season with Moville Celtic,
impressed Harps boss Paul Hegarty during pre season
and was subsequently signed by Harps.
He has figured prominently for Harps in their
pre-season campaign and may well be pushing for a
place in the team for this weekend’s opening game in
the Premier Division at home to Cobh Ramblers. |
