Oxford United watch on as PFA submit challenge to EFL rules

Oxford United fell victim to changes made by the EFL to SCMP last month and were handed a temporary transfer embargo for failing to comply with the regulations which were amended in May.

The embargo was confirmed just under three weeks after Aaron Ramsey’s arrival as Oxford United head coach, replacing Matt Bloomfield.

Under the adjusted rules, the proportion of revenue that League One clubs are permitted to use for player salaries has been lowered to 50 per cent from a previous 60 per cent.

In addition, clubs are restricted to spending a maximum of 50 per cent of owner “equity injection2 on squad wages.

In the framework, managers’ pay has been included for the first time.

The claim put forward by the PFA is that the rules adjustments were made without the correct consultation across the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC).

This organisation includes the EFL, Premier League, FA and PFA.

In response to the PFA’s appeal, the EFL issues a statement saying: “The EFL is concerned and disappointed at the position adopted by the PFA, following its decision to issue legal proceedings in respect of the approved changes to the League One SCMP.

“The changes simply amend an existing framework designed to support responsible cost control and improve financial sustainability across League One.

“The proposed changes have been discussed at length through the PFNCC process, including with the PFA, and the EFL has taken those discussions into account.

“The League does not accept that the PFA’s position is correct.”

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Aaron Ramsey had to deal with a transfer embargo just weeks into his Oxford United tenure (Image: Oxford United)

The challenge brought forward by the PFA brings questions towards Oxford’s current embargo; is it justified and should it continue whilst the rules that the U’s have not complied with are being challenged?

Speaking to The Dub, BBC Radio Oxford’s podcast, former PFA chair and Yellows defender Ben Purkiss offered his thoughts: “The effect of it, to the extent that the PFA are successful, will obviously come to Oxford United’s aid and to any other football clubs that are having issues with these regulations.

“The interesting thing here is timing and the impact of this because clearly there has been a significant impact on players already.

“From Oxford United’s point of view, we are probably the club who has been impacted most significantly given the transfer embargo that we are under.

“I very much doubt that the plane will be resolved by the [end of] the transfer window.

“But it will be really interesting to see how this evolves over the next couple of months at arbitration.

“If I were Oxford United, I would be strongly communicating with the EFL, essentially saying that these rules should not apply while this claim is ongoing. And what are you going to do about this for us if these rules are considered to be unenforceable?”