Green told Sky Sports News: “Our lawyers will pursue these claims. We have written to every Premier League and Football League club in the UK telling them clearly that we see this as a breach of contract. We don’t accept the advice the players have been given. “If their career is to play in Europe that’s never going to happen at the clubs they are signing for. If they are really looking at playing in Europe, they would stay at Rangers and play because the reality is that, before Norwich play in Europe, Rangers will be back in Europe. “I don’t accept that this is a career move – it’s for financial gain, no other reason.” If he has written to football clubs an it turns out they are free to leave, will the players try sue Rangers for effectively stopping them seeking alternative employment....? As a side issue, what a twat!!
basic UK employment law says you have the right to earn a living and 99% of contracts cannot stop you leaving for another company unless you are a shareholder and you have a restrictive covenant due to that
Whatever happens, it's almost certainly a problem for Whittaker, not Norwich. We don't know the details, but it's highly unlikely that Norwich have done anything wrong, they simply signed a player who they had every right to believe was a free agent. It's Whittaker (or the lawyers that have advised him) who will be dealing with Rangers.
Can't see this as a problem. Freedom to pursue your trade is a basic right under EU statute (see Bosman ruling) and i don't see how Whittaker (or any other former Rangers player) can have any obligation to a company which no longer (or soon will not) exist. Rangers broke all of their staff contracts by putting them in the position of dro your salary or lose your job. Looks like a lot of bluster and sabre rattling trying to stop the others jumping ship.
Scottish law is a waste of time and don't get me started on free movement of persons in the EU, it's all perfectly reasonable and sensible just it's bloody complicated. Had a nightmare studying it at uni!
I am a supporter of both Glasgw Rangers and Norwich City and was annoyed and disappointed with Charles Green's comments. In retaliation Whittaker should say back to Green, but with Norwich at least I am guaranteed football next season! Obviously, as a Rangers fan as well it was upsetting to see the players walk out on the club, but if I had a choice on their destination it would be Carrow Road! Surprised that Norwich bought Whittaker, personally I would have preferred Naismith or Aluko to join the Canaries.
Naismith would have been brilliant. But Everton was always a more attractive offer, even if we did go for him. I find his comments disrespectful, how can he guarantee that they will be in Europe first!? Nothing in football is guaranteed. As far as we are concerned, he's a free agent. If we didn't sign him, another club would have. The Holt saga wound me up, they tried to unsettle him or used him as smoke and mirror tactics or worse, planned to buy him and never pay...we would have been another waiting to be paid with little/no chance of ever getting what we were owed. Now, tell me who is a disgrace.
Yes, totally agree regarding the move by old Rangers to buy Holt. When I heard it at the time I thought total nonsense why would he leave a club like Norwich where he is adored and worshipped by the fans and playing in the English Premiership. Then when Rangers went into admin I thought how lucky Grant Holt was not to join them, from the success of helping Norwich climb the leagues to English Premiership he could have went to the lows of reduced wages and forcibly relegated to a lower division. Holt must think how lucky he was.
