Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says the time it took a court to fix Josh Key’s fees is “a disgrace”.
Key left the Greeks last summer to join Championship side Swansea City having emerged from the renowned Exeter academy.
Although he was out of contract because Key was under 24, Exeter were entitled to compensation for his development.
Although court has taken place, Caldwell says Exeter has yet to find out the verdict.
“I must say it is a disgrace the way we have been treated in this situation, and any other club that faces a tribunal in this situation,” he said.
“The fact that we sold a player over a year ago and still don’t have the money to do so is a disgrace, and I think something needs to be done about that in the future – not just for us but for other clubs who develop their own players. and sell them.”
Exeter has a long history of selling players for fees and sell-on clauses that helped finance the club.
England striker Ollie Watkins moved to Brentford and then Aston Villa in deals that earned the club more than £6 million, while Wales’ Ethan Ampadu moved to Chelsea via a court and then to Leeds United in moves that earned City around £2.5 million.
While Exeter has the financial resources to deal with a delay in Key’s fees, Caldwell fears not all clubs are in the same position.
“They need to find a solution to this much, much faster,” he said.
“If we were in a situation where we really needed this money, it could have affected our recruiting last year, it could have affected our performance last year.
“But because we are a well-run football club we can get away with it but other clubs may not be able to and I think the EFL needs to take a look at that.”
