Rules about players contracts

This is an edited version of an article about players contracts which has appeared on several sites. It is assumed that it covers the situation at Hereford United but the dates will be May 23rd and June 23rd.

The players who were out of contract and offered new terms at the end of last season have one month from May 20th to make a decision whether or not to accept the terms offered to them.

May 20th is the re-engagement date that applies across the country and the contracts must remain on the table for a period of one month from that date as per Football League re-engagement regulations (the date of May 20th is amended to three days after the last game for those clubs involved in the play-offs). (This explains why the dates are May 23 and June 23 for Hereford United - ed)

During this month, clubs can increase the contract offer, but they cannot decrease or withdraw any offers made but once June 20th arrives that restriction is lifted and clubs can increase or decrease any contract offer, or completely withdraw a contract offer.

So, although players have until June 20th to accept, decline, negotiate the offers currently on the table or even sign for someone else as a free agent (*Compensation would be required for any player under the age of 24 who has been offered a new contract), there is nothing to stop the decision period going beyond June 20th if that is the will of both club and player.

What is removed after June 20th is the protection offered to the player that the club cannot decrease or withdraw any offers made.

From the above it seems that the three Hereford United players who haven't yet agreed new contracts are likely to sign, or not as the case might be, by next Friday.

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