Posted this on the Southampton board. I really do not think it will have that much of an impact on salaries. Doesn't a player currently sign a binding contract with the club they are joining for 2,3 or 4 years? In that contract there can be a release clause built in stating a notice period which can be 2,3,or 4 years notice although I would suggest 1 year is the most reasonable. The transfer windows will be gone so that will be a bonus for some clubs. Any contract can be bought out by another club for an agreed (transfer) fee if all parties are in agreement and the player can agree personal terms. So what exactly will change? It seems it will revert to the situation before the transfer windows were introduced. http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/241903-The-end-of-Transfers http://www.fifpro.org/news/news_details/2455
But the 'buying out' will be based on the contract which is wages. Not sure if there can be a transfer fee in the contract although no reason why not unless it cuts across employment law. It seems the union wants the right to resign and move elsewhere like we all do. But that means no 'ownership' or control by the employing club so that they can extract a fee for themselves. Might this also mean that a club could be sued by a player coz they don't play him in the right position or not at all so that his sellability is affected and therefore his ability to command a bigger wage elsewhere?
There are release clauses currently built into some players, if not all players, contracts which can be activated if a buying club offers that fee, although this appears to be only if the club wants to sell. Suarez wanted to leave Liverpool and Arsenal offered £40 million + £1.00 to activate the release clause but Suarez is still at Liverpool. Unless Suarez did not want to go to Arsenal I am not sure why the transfer did not happen. If a player were to resign he would still have to serve a notice period before he can leave, this is usually set by the employer when they present the contract to the potential employee. Given the vast sums of money involved in the sport I suggest this would be a minimum of 1 year. If the player wants a shorter notice period then i would suggest it would involve some sort of financial consideration to the employer.
It'll be a case of cutting their nose off to spite their face. If football wants to be like every other industry then many more changes are required, most of which won't be to the benefit of the players. Where I've worked in the past, senior roles have 6 to 12 month notice periods. It works against you if you are looking to move, but works for you if your company want rid. It resulted in be getting an extended period of 'fishing leave' last year. My company wouldn't pay me off in a lump sum but had no work for me, so I spent 4 months back and fore to Scotland after Salmon. Whilst I am not a salable asset (no transfer fee), indusctry often pays golden hellos or golden handcuffs to recruit or retain. While the 'transfer fee' doesn't go to the company, the individual benefits. However, were are taking about people on salaries that will be less in a year than footballers get in a week. Will clubs invest in youth development if the youth could walk. Selling youngsters keeps some clubs afloat (Crewe). In industry, if a company invests in an individuals development or education, there is often a tie in clause. We'll pay for you to study for your degree and sponsor you through it, but on a sliding scale you will have to pay those fees back if you leave within 3 years. Football is so different from other businesses that you can't take one item in isolation which is what this article is doing. The repercussions would be enormous if this is pursued.
