is currently on trial with us, he is predominantly a right back but can also play left back.

According to todays Highland News and Press and Journal, he played at Buckie last night and recently turned out for Kilmarnock as a trialist playing at Ross County at the weekend. He played 45 mins at right back and 45 mins at left back over the bridge

Anyone who was at last nights game notice how he played?

Are we at all sure he's better than Proctor?

It's a chance I'd be willing to take!

C'mon everyone, Proc has his uses, bullet header against Celtic and, and well he must have something, after all he is a utility player so give the guy a break............Thomas, maybe he is great, maybe not, I'll wait a bit to make my judgement.

TM4TJ. Couldn't agree more. The people on here that are on Proctors case forget the displays that he has put in for us in the past. He may not be playing well right now, but I don't recall Rooney etc getting this type of treatment. Buckie level? please.

edited for red wine spelling

Edited July 24, 201113 yr by davie

I agree with Manfer, let's getr off Proctor's case.

He did well in the past and should not be playing ithe right back position anyway. Obviously. if he is not comfortable in that position then Terry should not surely be playing him there.

Proctor is a squad player trying to play in a position he's not good in but is forced to play in. To be honest I dont really know what his best position is but its not right back. That said he has displayed some good football in the past and will likely do so again. He doesn't deserve some of the comments being made about him.

Nobody is forcing him to play right back - he is being selected to play right back. Therefore the people responsible for persisting in that selection are at fault and their persisitence may eventually alienated the said player to the support and damge his self confidence for ever.

Now - Has that not happened before ?

TM4TJ. Couldn't agree more. The people on here that are on Proctors case forget the displays that he has put in for us in the past. He may not be playing well right now, but I don't recall Rooney etc getting this type of treatment. Buckie level? please.

The game's not played in the past unfortunately, the game is played in the present. I used to rate Proctor - not any more.

The game's not played in the past unfortunately, the game is played in the present. I used to rate Proctor - not any more.

Indeed.

Russell Duncan and Grant Munro spring to mind - soory - that is another thread.

AMEN

Can anyone explain what this "International Clearance" is about? Is this the same as a Work Permit? If so, im confused. As he is an Austrian citizen and Austria is part of the EU; then he is allowed to work and travel throughout the EU community, so wouldn't need such a permit. Surely these allowances that apply to us all within the Eu apply to Footballers as well?

BC

Can anyone explain what this "International Clearance" is about? Is this the same as a Work Permit? If so, im confused. As he is an Austrian citizen and Austria is part of the EU; then he is allowed to work and travel throughout the EU community, so wouldn't need such a permit. Surely these allowances that apply to us all within the Eu apply to Footballers as well?

BC

there doesnt appear to be any info in the SPL Handbook (although i just had a very quick scan)

I found this on the English FA website, i would have though the same rule would apply to us however:

It must be understood that the registration of the player who has previously played abroad will not be accepted until The

Football Association us in receipt of an International Registration Transfer Certificate issued in his/her behalf by the

former National Association. The player must not register or play in England for any Club at any level until his/her

clearance has been received.

Yes, I think international clearance is FIFA's own protocol whereas work permits are EU law related.

Is it not something to do with fraud and false identity. All players must register with there national association. That association then gives clearance that the player is registered, is who he claims to be, and is free from contract within his own country.

This is from an FA document that bases itself on the FIFA statutes, but no reason to suppose its much different for us !

Requesting International Clearance - The Procedures

1. FIFA Regulations governing the Status and Transfer of Players require National Associations to issue an International Transfer Certificate for any player over the age of 12 who is moving from one National Association to another. [NOTE: includes Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland & Eire]

A clearance will not normally be issued for a player under the age of 18 unless his family is moving for non-football reasons. Within the EU/EEA a player can move countries over the age of 16 subject to the labour laws of the country he is going to, and confirmation that his education and training will be looked after by his new club.

2. The Association which a player is leaving will issue the International Transfer Certificate to the National Association to which the player is moving. This is now only allowed within 2 transfer windows in a year. From the end of a League's season up to the 31st August and for the month of January.]

3. The Football Association shall make a request for an International Transfer Certificate to the issuing Association. In order to identify a player correctly the request should include the player?s full name, date and place of birth and the name of the Club for which he was last registered together with written confirmation that the Club wishes to register the player.

4. An Association, having received a request from another Association, is obliged to issue an International Transfer Certificate providing the player is not under written contract to a Club, is not suspended from football for disciplinary reasons, and has fulfilled all obligations to the former Club.

5. Clubs seeking International Clearance should make a request in writing to the Registrations Department of The Football Association. The request may be faxed direct to the Department on 0844 980 0663. E-mails can be sent to: [email protected]. Clubs and players may be required to complete a questionnaire.

6. The Football Association will ask the National Association concerned via fax for an International Transfer Certificate. This will be done by post in the event of a fax facility not being available.

7. When an International Transfer Certificate has been issued to this Association the Club and/or player will be notified by fax, telephone, e-mail or letter by the Registrations Department. Until notification has been received the player may NOT be registered or play for a Club in England at any level.

8. Such a player may NOT play in a competitive fixture at any level in England until an International Clearance has been received and registration has been accepted by a League and/or this Association. Letters from National Associations and Clubs are NOT sufficient to enable a player to play competitive football.

9. Players may train or play in ?behind closed doors? friendly matches without International Clearance. However, in these circumstances, the Club should have the permission of the player?s former Club. For friendly matches played in public the written permission of the other National Association is required.

10. Should The Football Association not receive an International Transfer Certificate, or a reply stating a reason why this is not being issued within 30 days of the request, then a provisional clearance can be issued.

11. FIFA Regulations governing the Status and Transfer of Players are published in The Football Association Handbook.

12. Even if the International Transfer Certificate is received players who DO NOT hold a UK or EU passport, or do not have Home Office authority to live and work in the UK, CANNOT take part in any match at any level at which spectators pay for admission. This is a Home Office ruling.

13. It must be appreciated that delays do occur when requesting International Clearance from other National Associations. When a request is made to ourselves by a Club this is faxed as soon as possible, usually the same day, to the other National Association concerned. We are then in their hands as to how quickly, or slowly, a reply is made. This Association gets as exasperated as Clubs and Players when delays occur, especially as we wish each case to be concluded as

quickly as possible in order to save this office making many repeated requests.

Is it not something to do with fraud and false identity. All players must register with there national association. That association then gives clearance that the player is registered, is who he claims to be, and is free from contract within his own country.

Doesnt seem to be any real definitions as to the reasons required .... but one of them I came across on Google may actually hit close to home ..... "Article 13 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfers of Players (RSTP) provides that a contract between a professional and a club may only be terminated upon expiry of the term of the contract or by mutual agreement."

or in other words, one of the primary functions of the ITC is to make sure that the player signing for one club in one country is not still contracted to a club in another country ... http://arbitration.practicallaw.com/0-501-6227

I am sure there are other reasons - disciplinary points, suspensions, etc and probably an element of the 'fraud' Alex mentions in making sure the player is actually who they say they are

Incidentally - this also applies in the Amateur leagues too !!! I had to fill in some form or other a few years ago when one of our players in the IDAFA moved to England to work and wanted to sign for an amateur team down there ... in this case, it also makes sure the player is truly an amateur and not classed as semi-professional or a professional seeking to be re-instated as an amateur (eg. after retiring from professional game).

Lateset update from the club:

Caley Thistle intend to have Austrian under-21 international defender Thomas Piermayr registered in time to face Hibernian at Inverness on Saturday and manager Terry Butcher is chasing up another arrival.

Thomas is keen to join the club and clearance is being sought from the Austrian FA for the 21-year-old right back, a six-footer who signed for Linz in 2008 and made 55 appearances, scoring two goals.

Terry Butcher said: "Thomas has good pace, a lovely touch and is hungry to succeed. He's versatile and can play right back, left back or midfield. He's got good Austrian League and under 21 international experience."

Piermayr, who played for Kilmarnock in a pre-season friendly with Ross County, turned out for Caley Thistle at Buckie last week. He is set to be Caley Jags' first Austrian player but not their first recruit with Austrian experience. That was Canadian international Richard Hastings, who had a spell with Grazer AK.

The manager admitted: "It was extremely disappointing to lose 3-0 at Motherwell in our SPL opener and it all came down to 'Well taking their chances, while we didn't take ours.

"Our resources were stretched for the Fir Park game but we hope to have one or two back for Saturday plus one or two new faces, including Piermayr. We are pursuing a range of enquiries."

Interesting part at the bottom, certainly could do with new bodies to strengthen the squad