How a Fifa contract dispensation could impact on more than 100 Scottish Premiership players and help clubs finish the season

A concern for clubs if the season is prolonged is players’ contract situation

There are more than 100 players in the Ladbrokes Premiership out of contract at the end of the season.

Usually it would be a time for agents to get to work and for individuals to weigh up their options and possibly next move.

However, the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent postponement of the season has thrown a very serious spanner in the works with Scottish football postponed until further notice, a decision which was taken on Friday.

Kilmarnock's Stephen O'Donnell and Celtic's Jonny Hayes are both out of contract at the end of the season. Picture: SNS

What happens next is unclear, with plenty of speculation and opinion as to the options available.

According to The Athletic, Fifa and the English FA are already preparing for a possibility that the season is extended to allow it to be played to completion.

Most players who are on expiring deals have deals up until the end of June. If the season returns to be completed, the FA and Fifa could grant special dispensation on contracts. It would allow short-term rolling deals for players out of contract on June 30.

In Scotland many contracts tend to expire at the end of May which would require different dispensation. But it would be vital with so many players on expiring deals.

Those who will be out of contract in the summer if they don’t agree a new one, including Celtic’s Jonny Hayes, Hearts’ Oliver Bozanic and Vykintas Slivka of Hibs. Hamilton, Kilmarnock and Motherwell are some of the teams who have a raft of players out of contract.

Not only could clubs re-sign players but they possibly look to strengthen by plucking out of contract players from rival sides.

An issue could rise whereby agents look to take advantage of the situation and secure their clients “lucrative bonuses”.

A source told The Athletic: “You can guarantee agents will demand lucrative bonuses for themselves and their player if he is seen as crucial to club’s success for that immediate goal.”

It is unclear the position on loan players who clubs have as part of their squad, as well as those due to return.