Blackpool boss so pleased the window's closed

Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer is happy the transfer window has now closed and he knows the players at his disposal until January.
Peter HartleyPeter Hartley
Peter Hartley

The only piece of deadline-day business completed by Pool was defender Peter Hartley’s loan move to Scottish Premier League club Motherwell for the rest of the season.

The experienced 29-year-old, signed from Bristol Rovers in June, has been unable to force his way into Bowyer’s side, appearing only in the two cup games against Wigan.

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Hartley followed Jamille Matt, loaned to Grimsby on Tuesday, in leaving Bloomfield Road but the club kept hold of Bright Osayi-Samuel, who was strongly linked with Ian Holloway’s QPR.

Bowyer is a critic of the current system and is encouraged that fellow managers higher up the pyramid seem to be of a similar mind.

“It doesn’t quite add up or make sense,” Bowyer said. “I think a lot of managers have stated the case for the window closing before the start of the season.

“We were trying to prepare for AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and there was the potential for two players we were working with to then be unavailable.

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“To get the window shut before the start of the season would make everyone’s lives easier.”

Bowyer believes changing the rules would be fairer to fans, who buy season tickets and replica shirts bearing the names of players who could leave within weeks of the kick-off.

Bowyer explained: “Supporters buy season tickets on the strength of what you’ve done over the summer and kids have names on shirts.

“Barcelona fans had Neymar’s name on the back of their shirts and it’s a lot of money. The game has to take that into consideration.”

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Bowyer is also troubled by the fact that, once the transfer window is closed, there is no loan market.

The previous loan window was a way of bringing in emergency additions if needed or sending out other players in order for them to get game time.

“You have to try to see for four months and get through it on what you’ve got,” Bowyer said.

“Touch wood we haven’t had an injury crisis or illnesses but then you can’t go and get anyone in.

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“The whole system needs to be reviewed. Some players train every day but the player in their position is in fantastic form. As a result, they can’t get in the team.

“With the loan window being shut, you can’t loan them out to get some games which will benefit the player, the club who gets him and the (parent) club itself.

“It’s a restriction of trade near enough. There are a couple of meetings planned for managers in higher leagues and I think that will look at ways they can improve it.”