THE Football League announced this week it remains hopeful it will secure dispensation from FIFA's new transfer windows very soon.

The new system was implemented on August 31, meaning no transfers could take place outside two windows - one ending on August 31 and the other from January 1-31.

Currently, the League is continuing with the system that previously existed while it awaits FIFA's decision on proposals for dispensation.

Under the main thrust of the proposals, it is envisaged Football League clubs would be allowed to buy and sell players on a permanent transfer within the Football League and below; loan players with the Football League and below and loan players down from Premier League clubs.

However, it is proposed that signings under those categories would be subject to a maximum quota of ten for each club.

Crucially, players could be sold to Premiership clubs with special permission between the windows should a club find itself in severe financial difficulties.

At York City, we are quite fortunate in that we have a settled squad now that has competition in every area.

But generally, most managers would have wanted this issue settled by now as it has led to a great deal of uncertainty.

Especially at this level when finances are tight, there is already a great responsibility on managers when they look to enter the transfer market or strengthen their squad to get it right.

There's little or no room to make a mistake and the introduction of a transfer window can make life more difficult - if you get it wrong it can be at least four months before it can be rectified.

As it is at the moment, the situation is not clear and that can make life even more difficult as you look to plan for the future.

However, having said that I do not necessarily think the introduction of transfer windows is a bad thing.

Of course, for smaller clubs it is important that they can still sell players to ease a financial burden.

But as a manager, I think the introduction of transfer windows make it more of a level playing field precisely because you cannot buy yourself out of trouble.

Personally, I believe you try and get the squad that you want at the start of the season and basically you should be able to go with that for the whole of the season.

It should all be about bringing out the best in the players that you have got.

And if clubs, even Premiership clubs, do find themselves short in one or two positions for whatever reason then it will mean the younger players will also get an opportunity.

I think that is how it should be; there is no point in having a good youth policy if you are not going to give your players experience.

From my own point of view, it is also perhaps easier for me to cope with it because for most of my time in management it has been like that as I've not had vast sums of money to spend.

And as a club, York City have also always given youth a chance over the years.

With or without the transfer window, football is perhaps already moving in that direction anyway - clubs are now becoming more and more responsible about the way they run things from a financial point of view.

However, once the game is back on more of an even keel there will always be one or two clubs looking to go the other way again.

I suspect eventually, even the Football League will have to fall in line with the windows but at the moment we will settle for clarity.

Updated: 10:45 Thursday, September 12, 2002