Sheffield Wednesday served a warning over out-of-contract stars like Fernando Forestieri
A large number of Owls players, Fernando Forestieri being one, have deals that run out at the end of June and it appears as though the season will run well beyond that date due to football’s Coronavirus-forced shutdown.
Earlier this week, Fifa approved plans to grant temporary extentions to contracts in a bid to see respective seasons completed.
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Hide AdHowever, the man who has been representing Wednesday in their legal battle with the EFL over profitability and sustainability rules, says those out-of-contract players could easily leave on the original date of expiry if they so wish.
Nick De Marco QC pointed out that staying on at their current club may not suit everyone, meaning that the likes of Forestieri, Kieran Lee and Morgan Fox could lave on June 30.
"Legally, they cannot be forced to continue to play for the club, he told Sky Sports News. “Nobody can force them to do so; FIFA, the FA, the club or anybody else.
"If they want to walk away, that's a matter for them but it will really be a matter of whether, financially, that makes sense for them.
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Hide Ad"What you're most likely to see as a preferred option is probably very short-term extensions of contracts based on existing salary terms.
"That won't suit everyone, and it can't be forced on anyone in England.
"For example, if you're a player coming towards the end of your contract and, perhaps, the end of your career, maybe you only have one more contract left, you may be very reluctant to sign a contract for only a few weeks or an indeterminate period of time.
"If you're a lower league club, financially stressed, you won't be wanting to pay players beyond June 30. So, a one-size-fits-all solution isn't going to work. It's going to depend on each case. The key is going to be agreements."