Catlin fears major hurdle even if League One season resumes
the goodwill of players. they will carry on during that month because they cannot sign for another club.
“Asking them to stay on for a month is one thing, asking them to go into a new deal beyond July 31 for a limited amount of time when they risk injury is something completely different.
“I am not talking specifically about Pompey. Speaking
generally, take a club who have a player whose contract ends in June, but is willing to play on into July because of the severance pay.
“Asking them to go beyond that could be a problem because they may have already done another deal with another club.
“I think it is a big ask, especially when those players are risking injury.”
The EFL have previously put forward proposals that would allow clubs to offer short-term extensions.
Sunderland’s chief executive Jim Rodwell has previously said that playing into August should be considered, if that is required.
“The players would always have a choice whether or not they want to play in July,” he said.
“I'd have thought they would, but they may not and it's entirely up to them.
“In the worst-case scenario that they don't, we have other players in contract.
“It is important, but my view is that it's more important to play the season out with whatever teams we can in terms of integrity, than not playing.
“There are things to address. “We have important players that we would like to play the rest of the season who are out of contract.
“Everything can be negotiated.
“Worst-case scenario is a player decided he doesn't want to play, for whatever legitimate reason, and that's no problem, then you have to play someone else.”