Fleetwood Town chief executive Steve Curwood was frustrated with the outcome of Friday’s FA tribunal in Manchester concerning last summer’s transfer of Jamie Mullan.
Blue Square North rivals Northwich Victoria were awarded £5,000 compensation, and a 20% future sell on clause, for the transfer of 21-year-old winger.
Mullan joined Town after his contract expired with Northwich at the end of last season. The player’s age meant an FA ruling was used to decide if any compensation should be made to the previous club and the value if awarded.
Mullan joined Curwood at the tribunal, with Northwich represented by manager Andy Preece and chairman Jim Rushe.
Curwood was disappointed with the outcome: “While Northwich had requested £25,000 compensation, I pointed out that Northwich had not followed the laid down guidelines, by failing to offer Jamie a new contract on the same terms as his original contract. This step was necessary to protect their compensation rights. The FA did not take this matter into account and decided on the £5,000 award.
“While we have to accept the award, I am very disappointed the clearly laid down procedures in the FA rules have not been followed on this occasion. Even discounting this fact, I feel £5,000 is excessive for a player who only started eighteen games for his previous club, scoring just once, in the Conference National last season.
“We are in an age when fees for players at this level of the game are becoming increasingly rare. However the result could have been much worse, if the FA had accepted the Northwich argument for £25,000. That would have been outrageous.”
(Photo - Derick Thomas)
