Colchester United head coach Danny Cowley has demanded an explanation from the EFL following the decision to organise a full round of fixtures on Transfer Deadline Day next week.
Clubs have until 11pm on Tuesday to make the last additions to their squad before the transfer window reopens in January. However, the majority of clubs across the Championship and League One will also be in action, as well as all 24 teams in League Two.
As a result of the conflict in the calendar, some clubs may be forced to conclude their activity early. This also puts them at risk of missing out on any potential last-minute deals.
Cowley Stunned At EFL Decision
Colchester have made eight signings so far this summer, although five have arrived on loan. They are still thought to be in the market for one or two late additions, with Cowley frustrated that his focus will be on the pitch and a trip to Bristol Rovers rather than any late deals.
Speaking to Gazette News, the former Lincoln City boss said:
“It’s crazy – I don’t understand how these decisions get made.
“Do they not have calendars? Why don’t they just look at the calendar and just try to work it out accordingly?
“Football blows my brains sometimes – the lack of planning, the lack of care for people.”
Continuing, the head coach stated that he believes that ‘nobody cares’ about the so-called smaller clubs:
“I know nobody cares about clubs at this level but we’ve got really small support teams.
“As coaches and managers, we pretty much have to do it all ourselves.
“We’re at the bottom of the food chain naturally and deadline day is a pretty important day for us, so they’re not joined up in their thinking by putting a full schedule of fixtures on.”
Finally, Cowley called on the EFL to provide an explanation as to why this round of fictures were scheduled:
“It’s beyond me – it’s a really important day, it’s a really busy day, particularly when you’re at the bottom of the food chain so you’re waiting.
“You have to wait for the Premier League, the Championship and League One, then we come and we normally come really late.
“It just doesn’t make any sense to me and I would just genuinely like to understand why.
“We could have done with a little bit more help from the powers above.”
Colchester Still In The Market
Cowley’s comments indicate that they are still in the market for at least one player as he looks to improve on last season’s 12th-placed finish. They’ve started the season well, picking up four points from their opening two league games ahead of tomorrow’s clash against Rochdale.
Although they have made eight signings this summer, five of those have been loan deals whilst the other three have been free transfers. Clearly there is still some business to be done, but it appears as if he is going to have to trust his recruitment team to deliver the goods whilst he attempts to pick up three points at the Memorial Stadium.
