With new Nottingham Forest manager Martin O’Neill getting his feet comfy under his new desk, there are a groundswell of reports this week that one of his first decisions – recalling Joe Worrall back from Rangers – will be hugely problematic owing to a simple oversight.
From my understanding of the loan market, even season long deals have a natural break clause that comes into play during the January window, albeit with some financial penalties for either side which wants to go back on the original deal.
Fans would presume Forest wouldn’t be out of pocket as any penalties would’ve been factored into the original loan fee, but the Nottingham Post were reporting yesterday that the deal also included a clause that meant if Worrall played enough minutes, a recall was then impossible in any event.
The future of the 22-year-old has been a regular topic of discussion in the media in the first half of the year, especially when injuries and suspensions have hit us and there has always been a lack of clarity on why we just couldn’t end the deal – but if the above is true that’s such a simple oversight on our behalf it begs belief.
If it was designed to ensure Worrall didn’t return this year because Aitor Karanka would not use him and wanted him off the wage bill, that’s fine, but you make it an obligation on the loan club only, not one that potentially has ramifications for the parent club.
