SFA settle Wishaw player signing row
The SFA have been forced to step in to decide a signing row between Wishaw and Fauldhouse.
The dispute started as The Beltane side announced David O’Donnell, Ewan Herriot, Aiden Ward and Matty Craig as their new signings in April, ahead of what the fours stars believe to be the end of their contract.
However, Fauldhouse called for the players to have their contracts declared null and void in North Lanarkshire stating the switch was a breach of contract.
The West Lothian outfit claimed that their deals ran until 2021 with an option to void at the end of the season last year.
They added that both the club and player had to agree to the deals being voided before a decision was made, which Fauldhouse did not.
Matty Craig was the only player from the four expected to return to training as the other trio were transfer listed.
However, after the decision was taken to the governing body, the SFA Registrations Department have now given the green light to seal the signing of the four new boys from gaffer Mark
Daly’s former side.
The SFA confirmed that they “will now action the mutually agreed cancellations” to release the players but added that Fauldhouse “may seek recourse with the individual players via the Scottish FA Dispute Resolution Procedure Rules” if they wish to pursue a breach of contract.
In a club statement, Wishaw’s committee said: “Wishaw announced that the players had agreed to sign for us via our social media channels but we had not registered the players as the window for registering players had not yet opened.
“We respectfully disagree with Fauldhouse’s interpretation of matters.
“Having received confirmation from the SFA Registrations Department we can confirm that we are now in a position to register the players with Wishaw.
“The players, management and the club as a whole are excited about the up and coming season in the new West of Scotland League and bringing ‘senior’ football back to Wishaw.“
The Fauldhouse committee added: “It [The ruling] does not clear Wishaw and opens the door to further action should the committee choose to do so.”