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> 1. Definitions
> 2. Alterations to these Regulations

1 Definitions

1.1 The words in bold shall have the following meanings in these Regulations and the
Appendices:

'1985 Act' means the Companies Act 1985 and every statutory modification or re-enactment in force from time to time.

'2006 Act' means the Companies Act 2006 and every statutory modification or re-enactment in force from time to time.

'Agent' means any person who directly or indirectly represents, negotiates on behalf of, is engaged by, advises or otherwise acts for a Club or a Player (other than a solicitor giving professional legal advice only) in the context of either the registration or transfer of the registration of a Player or the employment of a Player by a Club.

'Articles of Association' means the Articles of Association of The League from time to time.

'Artificial Surface' means any playing surface which is not natural grass, predominantly natural grass or intended to be predominantly natural grass.

'Associate' means in relation to an individual any other individual who is:

(a) the spouse or civil partner of that individual; or

(b) a relative of the individual or of his spouse or civil partner; or

(c) the spouse or civil partner of a relative of the individual or of their spouse or civil partner.

'Associated Undertaking' means an undertaking in which an undertaking has a participating interest and over whose operating and financial policy it exercises a significant influence, and
which is not a Parent Undertaking or a Subsidiary Undertaking.

'Away Club' means the Club which should play or should have played any Match on the ground of a Home Club.

'Board' means the Board of Directors for the time being of The League.

'Championship Club' means a member Club that participates in the Championship Division of the League Competition in any Season.

'Clear days' notice' means exclusive of the day on which the notice is served, or deemed to be served, and of the day for which it is given and in respect of receipt of a document by a
specified number of 'clear days' prior to a specified event, means exclusive of the day on which the document is received and the day of that event.

'Close Season' means the period of the year outside the Season.

'Club' means any Association Football club which is, from time to time, a member of The League, save that where the context so requires in Section 6 of these Regulations, a
reference to a 'Club' shall also include clubs from time to time in membership of The Premier League.

'Compensation Fee' means any sum of money or other consideration (exclusive of Value Added Tax) payable by a Transferee Club to a Transferor Club upon the permanent transfer of the registration of an Under 24 Player in respect of whom the right of the Transferor Club to receive compensation has been retained in accordance with Regulation Subject to the provisions of this Regulation 64, any Club which makes an offer in accordance with Regulation 64.2 of re engagement to a Contract Player who is an Under 24 Player and which is in the opinion of the Board not less favourable than the Player's current contractual terms, shall be entitled to a Compensation Fee in respect of the loss of the Player's registration, should the Player sign for another Club. In order to comply with this Regulation, the annual value of the terms offered must be at least equivalent to the most favourable year's terms in the Player's previous contract. The terms offered to Players for re engagements must be as favourable overall except that a signing on fee included in the previous contract and stated to be a once only payment need not be repeated. Copies of all offers of re engagement made to Contract Players must be sent to the Secretary. or a Player refusing to be registered in The Football Conference in accordance with Regulation An Under 24 Player who has refused an offer of re engagement made by his Club in accordance with Regulation Transfers After Expiry of Contract who remains in dispute with his Club as at the 15 July next following the Club's loss of Football League status must sign a Football Conference registration form and Contract with his Club which Contract must contain a clause consistent with Regulation enter into a contract with the Player in accordance with the provisions of Regulation Conditions of Contract but providing that the Player's registration may be transferred to another Club at any time during the currency of such contract (subject to the provisions of Regulation Registration of Players) for a fee determined in accordance with these Regulations; or to the effect that the Player remains free to speak to other Clubs without restriction subject to him keeping the Club with which he is contracted, aware of any negotiations. The Contract should contain the same financial terms as were included in clauses (e) and (f) of the schedule attached to his last Football League Contract except that a signing on fee stipulated to be a once only payment need not be repeated and the Player will be bound by any new incentive schedule. If the Player refuses to be registered in The Football Conference then his Club will be entitled to retain compensation rights without payment of a wage. The Professional Football Compensation Committee will on application from a Club or Player determine a dispute over the Compensation Fee.

'Concert Party' means any person with which any relevant person is acting in concert within the meaning of paragraphs (2) to (5) (inclusive) of the definition of 'acting in concert' in the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, or would be so acting in concert if the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers applied in the relevant case.

'Connected Person' means any Person or Entity who directly or indirectly possesses or is entitled to acquire more than 30 per cent of:

(a) the issued ordinary share capital of the company; or

(b) the loan capital (save where loan capital was acquired in the ordinary course of the business of lending money) and issued share capital of the company; or

(c) the voting power in the company; or

(d) the assets of the company which would be available for distribution to equity holders in the event of winding up of the company.

'Contract Player' means any Association Football Player (except a Scholar or Youth Player) who is playing under a written contract of employment with a Club.

'Control' means the power of a person to exercise, or to be able to exercise or acquire direct or indirect control over the policies, affairs and/or management of a Club, whether that power
is constituted by rights or contracts (either separately or in combination) and having regard to the considerations of fact or law involved, and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, Control shall be deemed to include:

(a) the power (whether directly or indirectly and whether by the ownership of the share capital, by the possession of voting power, by contract or otherwise including without limitation by way of membership of any Concert Party) to appoint and/or remove all or such of the members of the board of directors of the Club as are able to cast a majority of the votes capable of being cast by the members of that board; and/or

b) the holding and/or possession of the beneficial interest in, and/or the ability to exercise the voting rights applicable to, shares or other securities in the Club (whether directly, indirectly (by means of holding such interests in one or more other persons) or by contract or otherwise including without limitation by way of any Concert Party) which confer in aggregate on the holder(s) thereof 30 per cent or more of the total voting rights exercisable at general meetings of the Club. 

For the purposes of the above any rights or powers of a Nominee for any person or of an associate of any person or of a Connected Person to any Person or Entity shall be attributed to that person.

'Director' means a member of the Board.

'Due Date' means the date upon which a Club is required to account to HMRC for PAYE & NIC, as prescribed by relevant legislation, regulations or guidance in force from time to time

'Entity' includes any legal entity, firm or unincorporated association and in the case of an Entity which is incorporated any Group Undertaking, Parent Undertaking or Subsidiary Undertaking of that incorporated Entity.

'Executive' means all or any of the Chief Executive of The League and the officers of The League. The Board decides which of The League's employees are deemed to be officers for
these purposes.

'Fellow Subsidiary Undertaking' has the meaning set out in section 1161(4) of the 2006 Act.

'Financial Institution' means any person or entity that is:

(a) authorised by the Financial Services Authority ('FSA') to carry on a regulated activity under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ('FSMA'); or

(b) carrying out a regulated activity as an appointed representative of a person or entity authorised by the FSA to carry on a regulated activity under the FSMA; or

(c) recognised by the FSA as being authorised to carry out a regulated activity in the UK through its regulation by a regulator in another country.

'Football Association Cup Match' means a match in the Football Association Challenge Cup Competition.

'Football Association Rules' means the rules and regulations for the time being of The Football Association.

'The Football Conference' means the combination of Association Football clubs known as

'The Blue Square Football Conference' or, subject to the approval of the Board, any successor or alternative conference and if such conference shall have more than one division, unless the context otherwise requires, shall mean the premier division of such conference.

'Football League Appeals Committee' means the Committee referred to in Regulation Any Club or Player dissatisfied with the decision of the FDC may appeal to the Football League Appeals Committee. The Football League Appeals Committee shall comprise:

'Group' has the meaning set out in section 474(1) of the 2006 Act.

'Group Undertaking' has the meaning set out in section 1161(5) of the 2006 Act.

'HMRC' means HM Revenue and Customs or such other government department(s) that may replace the same

'Holding' means the holding and/or possession of the beneficial interest in, and/or the ability to exercise the voting rights applicable to, shares or other securities in a Club (whether directly, indirectly (by means of holding such interests in one or more other persons) or by contract including without limitation by way of a Concert Party) which confer any voting rights exercisable at general meetings of the Club and for the purposes of this definition any rights or powers of a Nominee for any Person or of an Associate of any Person or of a Connected Person to any Person shall be attributed to that Person.

'Home Club' means the Club on whose ground any Match should be or should have been played or where ground sharing is in operation the Club whose name first appears on the relevant fixture.

'Home Grown Player' has the meaning set out in Regulation 'Home Grown Player' shall mean a Player who irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with:-.

'Image Contract Payment' means any payment made or liability incurred by or on behalf of a Club to a transferee in order to acquire the right to exploit a Player's image or reputation either in relation to football or non footballing activities.

'Insolvency Act' means the Insolvency Act 1986 and any statutory modification or reenactment thereof for the time being in force.

'Insolvency Event' refers to any one of the following:

(a) entering into a Company Voluntary Arrangement pursuant to Part 1 of the Insolvency Act, a Scheme of Arrangement with creditors under Part 26 of the 2006 Act, or any compromise agreement with its creditors as a whole;

(b) the lodging of a Notice of Intention to Appoint an Administrator or Notice of Appointment of an Administrator at the Court in accordance with paragraph 26 or paragraph 29 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act, an application to the Court for an Administration Order under paragraph 12 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act (other than paragraph 12(1)(c)) or where an Administrator is appointed or an Administration Order is made ('Administrator' and 'Administration Order' having the meanings attributed to them respectively by paragraphs 1 and 10 of Schedule B1 to the
Insolvency Act);

(c) an Administrative Receiver (as defined by section 251 of the Insolvency Act), a Law of Property Act Receiver (appointed under section 109 of the Law of Property Act 1925) or any Receiver appointed by the Court under the Supreme Court Act 1981 or any other Receiver is appointed over any assets which, in the opinion of the Board is material to the Club's ability to fulfil its obligations as a Member Club;

(d) shareholders passing a resolution pursuant to section 84(1) of the Insolvency Act to voluntarily wind up;

(e) a meeting of creditors is convened pursuant to section 95 or section 98 of the Insolvency Act;

(f) a winding up order is made by the Court under section 122 of the Insolvency Act or a provisional liquidator is appointed under section 135 of the Insolvency Act;

(g) ceasing or forming an intention to cease wholly or substantially to carry on business save for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation or otherwise in accordance with a scheme of proposals which have previously been submitted to and approved in writing by the Board;

(h) being subject to any insolvency regime in any jurisdiction outside England and Wales which is analogous to the insolvency regimes detailed in paragraphs (a) to (g) above; and/or

(i) have any proceeding or step taken or any court order in any jurisdiction made which has a substantially similar effect to any of the foregoing.

'The League' means 'The Football League Limited'.

'League Competition' means the annual League competition for Clubs organised by The League.

'League Match' means an Association Football Match in the League Competition.

'League 1 Club' means a Member Club that participates in the League 1 Division of the League Competition in any Season.

'League 2 Club' means a Member Club that participates in the League 2 Division of the League Competition in any Season.

'Loan Fee' means any sum of money (exclusive of Value Added Tax) payable by a Transferee Club to a Transferor Club upon a Standard Loan, Emergency Loan, Youth Loan or 'international' loan of a Player to or from a Club.

'Manager' means the Official of a Club responsible for selecting the Club's first team.

'Member Club' means any Club which is from time to time a member of The League in accordance with The League's Articles of Association and these Regulations.

'Nominee' means in connection to any Person or Entity another Person or Entity who possesses rights or powers on their behalf, or which they may be required to exercise at their discretion.

'Non-Contract Player' means any Association Football Player (except a Scholar or Youth Player) who is not playing under a written contract of employment with a Club.

'Normal Playing Season' means the period of the year commencing with the first League Match and, for each Club, ending immediately after the completion of the Club's final fixture of the League Competition, excluding any Play-Off matches.

'Normal Working Day' means a day (other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a Bank or Public Holiday) on which the League office is open for normal business.

'Office' means the registered office of The League.

'Official' means any Director, club secretary, employee (other than a Player) or duly authorised (express or implied) agent (other than an Agent) of a Club.

'Over 24 Player' means a Player who is entitled to the benefit of Regulation Players Over 24.

'Owners' and Directors' Test' means the provisions set out in Appendix IV.

'PAYE & NIC' means any and all payments required to be made by the Club in respect of income tax and national insurance contributions.

'Parent Undertaking' has the meaning set out in Section 1162 of the 2006 Act.

'Person' means an individual or where the context requires an Entity

'Player' means any Association Football player, Scholar or Youth Player offering to play, playing or having played association football for a Club.

'The Premier League' means The Football Association Premier League Limited.

'Professional Football Compensation Committee' means the Committee referred to in Regulation Professional Football Compensation Committee.

'Qualification Criteria' means the criteria for admission to The League as laid down by the Board from time to time including, without limitation, those matters set out in paragraph Subject to paragraph 1.4 below, the ground capacity and number of seats under cover, as recorded in the safety certificate, must meet the following minimum criteria: of Part 1 (Ground Capacity and Seating) and paragraph A new member club entering League 2 must comply with the Football Conference Average Lux Value and has until the 1st May in its first Season as a Member Club to meet The League 2 Average and Minimum Lux Value (which, for the purposes of Regulation In Seasons 2009/10 to 2013/14 inclusive, a Club which does not satisfy the appropriate Criteria set out in Part 2 (floodlighting) by the due date will be relegated to a lower Division with floodlighting criteria which the Club satisfies. A Club which does not satisfy the League 2 Criteria may be relegated to The Football Conference. The Board will convene a general meeting within 60 days of the due date and will propose an ordinary resolution for the relegation of such Club to The Football Conference. In either passing or not passing the resolution the Clubs may impose conditions on such Club for continued membership of The League., shall be deemed to be the Admission Criteria regarding floodlighting). of Part 2 (Floodlighting) of Appendix 1.

'Registered Player' has the meaning stated in Regulation A Registered Player is one who has signed an appropriate registration form or forms and/or contract (such signature to be witnessed by a second person) and whose registration has been approved by The League. No Player may play in any competition organised by The League unless and until his registration has been so approved. Notwithstanding the foregoing, only those Youth Players over the age of 15 years on 1st September in any given Season may play football for a Club's first team in that Season, and then may only do so with the written permission of his school's head teacher and the approval of the Executive. It shall be the responsibility of all Clubs playing in any competition organised by The League to ensure that all Players are so registered. Failure to do so constitutes misconduct. An additional copy of the appropriate registration papers shall at the same time as a copy is despatched to The League be despatched to The Football Association.

'Regulations' means the regulations of The League from time to time.

'Representation Contract' means a concluded agreement in writing in the form prescribed by the Football Association Football Agent Regulations (in force from time to time) and lodged with the Football Association as required by those regulations.

'Scholar' means a Player aged sixteen or over who has signed a Scholarship Agreement with a Club and a registration form for Scholars in the manner stipulated by the Board, such document having been forwarded to the Office.

'Season' means the period of the year commencing on the date of the first League Match and, for each Club, ending immediately after the completion of the Club's final fixture of the League Competition or, if the Club is participating in the Play-Offs, the final Play-Off match for that Club.

'Secretary' means the Secretary of The League, or a person nominated by the Executive to carry out the functions of the Secretary of The League.

'Significant Interest' means the holding and/or possession of the legal or beneficial interest in, and/or the ability to exercise the voting rights applicable to, shares or other securities in the Club which confer in aggregate on the holder(s) thereof ten (10) per cent or more of the total voting rights exercisable in respect of the shares of any class of shares of the Club. All or part of any such interest may be held directly or indirectly or by contract including, but not limited to, by way of membership of any Concert Party, and any rights or powers held by an Associate, Nominee or Connected Person shall be included for the purposes of determining whether an interest or interests amounts to a 'Significant Interest'.

'Subsidiary Undertaking' has the meaning set out in Section 1162 of the 2006 Act.

'Time to Pay Agreement' means an agreement in writing between the Club and HMRC in relation to the repayment of arrears to HMRC in respect of PAYE & NIC.

'Transfer Fee´ means any sum of money or other consideration (exclusive of Value Added Tax) payable by a Transferee Club upon the permanent transfer of the registration of a Contract Player.

'Transferee Club' means a Club (or club) to which the registration of a Contract Player is, or is to be or has been transferred (including on the basis of a Standard Loan, Emergency Loan or Youth Loan) or which, in the case of an Under 24 Player, effects registration of that Under 24 Player with that Club (or club)pursuant to Regulation 62.

'Transferor Club' means a Club (or club) from which the registration of a Contract Player is, or is to be or has been transferred (including on the basis of a Standard Loan, Emergency Loan or Youth Loan) or which, in the case of an Under 24 Player, holds his registration under the provisions of Regulation Subject to the provisions of this Regulation Transfers After Expiry of Contract, any Club which makes an offer in accordance with Regulation Any Club wishing to re engage a Contract Player whose contract is due to expire on 30 June must, save as mentioned in Regulations 64.2.1 to 64.2.4 below, notify him in writing by the third Saturday in May in the final year of his contract whether or not they offer him terms of re engagement specifying (where applicable) such terms. Notification of the terms offered may only be deferred: of re engagement to a Contract Player who is an Under 24 Player and which is in the opinion of the Board not less favourable than the Player's current contractual terms, shall be entitled to a Compensation Fee in respect of the loss of the Player's registration, should the Player sign for another Club. In order to comply with this Regulation, the annual value of the terms offered must be at least equivalent to the most favourable year's terms in the Player's previous contract. The terms offered to Players for re engagements must be as favourable overall except that a signing on fee included in the previous contract and stated to be a once only payment need not be repeated. Copies of all offers of re engagement made to Contract Players must be sent to the Secretary.

'Tripartite Agreement' means any agreement between The Football Association Limited and The Premier League and The League relating inter alia to the formation of The Premier League.

'Under 21 Player' means a Player under the age of 21 as at the 1st January in the year in which the Season concerned commences (e.g. for Season 2010/11, born on or after 1st January 1989).

'Under 24 Player' means a Player who is not an Over 24 Player.

'Youth Player' means a player (other than a Contract Player, a Non-Contract Player, a Scholar or a Trialist) playing in age groups Under 9 to Under 18 who is coached by or at or playing football for or at a Football Academy or a Centre of Excellence operated by a Club which holds his registration.

1.2 Wherever in these Regulations reference is made to a director of a Club or other body corporate, such references shall mean (without prejudice to the definition of 'Club Director' in Appendix IV) director or a shadow director for the purposes of or defined in the 2006 Act.

However, where a Regulation refers to a director of a Club being entitled to represent that Member Club or being required to sign a particular document on behalf of that Member Club, such reference shall not include a shadow director.

1.3 Wherever in these Regulations the computation of time is involved, Sunday is to be reckoned as a day save in respect of the definition of and use of the defined term 'Normal Working
Day'.

1.4 These Regulations shall be published on the League's website.

2 Alterations to these Regulations

2.1 No alteration, deletion or addition shall be made in or to these Regulations except in the manner provided in Article 26 of the Articles of Association.

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