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No junior transfers to USL until Summer 06.03.08

FAI say junior players must stay until end of their season

JUNIOR players hoping to make the step from the Inishowen or Donegal leagues to the Ulster Senior League for their new Summer season will not be permitted to do so until their own leagues are first completed.
The introduction of the Summer soccer season for the Ulster Senior League has caused uncertainty in relation to the movement of players between the various leagues, but Ulster FA Administrator Herbie Barr confirmed yesterday he had sought clarification from the FAI on the matter.
“There have been several queries raised by clubs and leagues in recent weeks so I sought clarification from the FAI. They have said that players cannot move from a junior league after the transfer season which was on January 31 and that means players are committed to stay with their current club until their junior club’s season has finished.”
According to the Ulster FA Administrator some clubs had also asked if registrations could be cancelled but said the FAI had made it clear that cancellation of registration is only permitted for professional players.
The clarification is unlikely to be welcomed by Ulster Senior League clubs many of whom may have had their eye on new signings from junior clubs.
And it is understood that the ruling could also affect senior clubs Derry City and Finn Harps if they wish to sign players from junior leagues.
However one high profile signing from the Inishowen League - the transfer of Gerry Gill from Moville to Finn Harps - has not been affected.
“We are aware of the difficulties that have arisen in relation to various league seasons now running out of synch and it has been an issue in relation to the signing of players for our youth and Under 20 teams. However as far as the transfer of Gerry Gill is concerned everything is in order and everything was agreed between Finn Harps and Moville Celtic and everything that needed to be signed was signed.”
Gill who started the season with Moville Celtic, impressed Harps boss Paul Hegarty during pre season and was subsequently signed by Harps.
He has figured prominently for Harps in their pre-season campaign and may well be pushing for a place in the team for this weekend’s opening game in the Premier Division at home to Cobh Ramblers.
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