Opinions sought on loan deal idea

Apr 8 2009 by Terry Owen, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE are testing the opinion of Premier League clubs on Ronnie Moore’s plan to introduce a new twist to the player loan system next season.

The Rovers manager believes his radical idea can help hard-up teams in the lower divisions survive the pressures of the recession while at the same time aiding the top clubs in developing young talent.

Under’s Moore’s scheme, Premier League clubs sending out reserve and Academy players to Football League clubs would continue to pay the wages of those youngsters provided they were gaining first team experience.

However, Football League clubs would have to meet the full cost of the wages of loan players when they were out of the side.

Moore said: “We are e-mailing all of the Premier League clubs to find out what they think of the idea. I have also been on to the League Managers Association about the plan, which I believe deserves serious consideration.”

Moore acknowledges his idea will take some selling to the Premier League elite, who can argue that some smaller clubs have abused the current system by using loan signings largely as back-up and cover.

He said: “Convincing the Premier League clubs is going to be the big thing.

“If a high-profile manager like Alex Ferguson looks at the idea and takes it on board, then I think a lot of others might take notice.”

One of the big pluses about this idea is that it stops clubs at the lower level abusing the loan system. If they bring the kids in from the top clubs and don’t play them, then they have to pay.

“But if the kids play and gain the benefit of experiencing first-team football then the top clubs don’t lose anything by continuing to pay their wages.

“In fact they gain.”

The biggest winners, Moore acknowledges, would be hard-pressed Football League clubs, many of whom will be under acute pressure to reduce squad sizes next season.