Thetownend.com

Some changes to the Football League rules have just been agreed....

- Maximum squad size of 25 players over the age of 21 of which 10 must have been registered domestically for three seasons before the age of 21. Unlimited number of players under the age of 21.
- Failure to file accounts with Companies House on time will result in a transfer embargo.
- Loophole allowing clubs to avoid administration penalties due to being part of a group of companies (ie like Southampton tried it on with) has been closed.

Leyton Orient proposed a two division relegation for entering administration but it was rejected. Pity in my book as I reckon it would have gone a long way to getting clubs to stop fucking about on the financial side.

It will be interesting to see the effect that the new squad rules in the PL and FL have this season, plenty of PL clubs will end up with a lot of players on their books that won't be able to play in the 1st team. Not sure about the FL, but PL clubs have to finalise their 25 player squad at the end of the transfer window and can't make any changes until the next transfer window. Though younger players are exempt and don't count towards the squad.

Maybe we'll be seeing a lot more players offered out on loan to FL clubs?

Some interesting rule changes by the FL, especially the transfer embargo if clubs don't submit their accounts in time.

If that rule was in place under Diamond Mike's stewardship, we would've been on a continuous transfer embargo.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8729294.stm

The squad size is great news for the game.

Desperately need the Premier League to impliment something simmilar.

I wish that they'd pay more attention to the individuals in charge than the actual club.

They have, rules are pretty similar if not the same.

fingers crossed it works then.

Chelsea had a squad of 41 players last season. Just the first team.

and that 72 club meeting had to be held in Malta because...?

They got it cheap under the Maltese Tourist Board. The last few years they've been to Spain.

Thats true but many will be exempt from the 25 man squad rule as they are under 21 / 20 / whatever the limit is.

According to their web site they only gave numbers to 37 players, of which 18 were U21 at the start of the season which I was quite surprised by.

Even so they still have to pay for flights and accomadation I expect which may have ruled out some of the smaller L2 clubs, it's just a jolly up I'm sure they could have it in this country somewhere at one of the conference centres around the country

Maybe they'll have it at the rather tasty CG redevelopment in years to come?

All the rule changes get a thumbs up from me, about time.

I think even the smaller League 2 clubs can afford a couple of seats on easyJet. Assuming the cost of the conference centre and accommodation was met by the League I'd hazard a guess that's cheaper in Malta than over here.

You would hope so wouldn't you but it was just a jolly up in the sun, I'm sure they could have got somewhere over here cheap enough that everyone could get to for a few days

What makes you think that some of the clubs couldn't afford it so didn't go?

Just wonder about some of the 'really' small clubs in L2 that have really got no money so how could they afford the flights and hotel costs etc, just a thought...are you telling me it was a full attendance then ?

FFS. Are you still on about this?

1) EasyJet
2) Hotels are cheaper in the Med than here

We're really not talking about an earth-shattering amount of money here, few hundred quid at most, probably a lot less