The Football League Paper

says... A window clean-up is just the job

NE major topic of discussion over the last week has been when the summer transfer window should close. Should it remain as it is now – the end of August – or should it be brought forward to before the season starts?

We spoke to a few Championship managers this week and they were all in favour of the window being closed before the season kicks off.

It’s easy to understand why. All their meticulous planning over the summer can be ruined if a big club comes in to tempt one of their players in the opening weeks of the campaign. It takes away any chance of stability and puts unnecessary pressure on managers and players.

Cases of high-profile players in the Premier League sitting out opening day matches because they are in a transfer limbo have been well publicised.

But it is also a factor in the Championship. Take the case of Bristol City’s Aden Flint, who has been the subject of interest from Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham City.

With his future uncertain, Flint has scarcely played for the Robins – who pay his wages – this term. Manager Lee Johnson says he would be a rich man if he had a pound for every time he’d been asked about the defender’s situation over the last few weeks.

The player has been put in a difficult situation, with Birmingham’s bids failing to meet the Robins’ valuation. It is a short career and understandable that Flint wants to do the best he can for himself and his family.

In an ideal world, the window would have shut before the EFL season kicked off on August 4 and everyone would have known where they stood and could have got on with their job.

The current deadline isn’t doing anyone any favours.