For the first time in A-League history, clubs "could be allowed to transfer players between one another after a proposal was put forward that will permit loan moves next season," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Football Federation Australia will meet with the clubs and the Professional Footballers' Association next week "in the hope of rubber-stamping a change to the regulations" that could have "major implications" on player development and terms of contracts for young local footballers. A proposal that has been put forward to the FFA board and involves the PFA will allow Australian players under the age of 23 to "move between clubs on loan for up to one season in order to gain more match time." Under the current regulations, A-League clubs are not allowed to loan, purchase or transfer players directly between one another. However, the first steps toward "eroding those stringent rules" are "close to being made with an intra-league loan system in the process of being ratified" that would allow players from one club to temporarily move to a rival. PFA CEO John Didulica was supportive of the move toward a loan system "while urging for a rethink of the overall salary cap and transfer regulations in place in the A-League" (SMH, 5/22).
