We have had a few requests recently from players wishing to be released from one club in order to play for another.

So now is probably a good time to explain the situation and clear a few things up.

This may “only be the Welfare” but we’re still an affiliate of the Scottish Football Association, and as such are bound by the governing body’s terms and conditions. This means when a player signs for a Club, they enter into a binding agreement with that Club.

We appreciate that circumstances can change, but a contract cannot be repealed at will by the Association. The binding agreement is between the player and Club, so the ultimate say regarding any player release rests with the Club itself.

Clubs are under no obligation to release any players once they have put pen to paper. Whilst it’s common for a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to take place where the Club releases an unhappy player, this is an entirely voluntary arrangement.

Therefore, should any player wish to be released from their contract, the first point of contact must always be the Club as the decision is entirely theirs.

Hopefully this clears up any misunderstanding.