By Paul Holmes
August 23 2002

The Football League has issued a warning to FIFA over the proposed transfer windows. The transfer window closes on August 31. A deadline that The Football League feels will damage smaller clubs.

Spokesperson John Nagle told BBC Online that the window will damamge small clubs. "We are talking about a system with really no benefits to smaller football clubs.

"It just restricts them from being able to sell their players at any stage during the season when, as we know, with these smaller clubs we often have a short-term need for cash.

"If clubs are limited in their ability to sign players during the season, they will have to carry bigger squads.

"For example, they may have to carry a goalkeeper for a season just for him to cover two or three games.

"Previously they could have brought a player in on loan and he could have filled the gap.

"Perhaps to a specific club, this could be a bigger issue than ITV Digital because it may force them out of business.

"We just feel that it would be wrong for clubs to be forced out of business over an issue that does not have any real benefits for them."