The legal bit about a pre contract has yet to be made clear to me. Dods, Cowie and Gow currently have contracts. They cannot sign new contracts : one because they are under contract, and two the window is closed.
Without seeing the documentation presumably a party can withdraw without too much compensation. Dods could say 'I made a mistake, I'm staying'. If not it is a contract. Presumably a party could change their mind and with significant EU legislation and system behind them back out. An agreement has less status than a contract.
First I though it was like an engagement to marry. But then if you have a contract you cannot then be unfaithful until that contract expires so Levein is out of order pursuing Dods during the engagement period. Football's governiing body has dictated that the new marriage cannot start until midnight when the old one ends.
But then I thought it can only be a future contract and that is based on goodwill and someone like Bosman or Webster will drive a cart and horses through it.
Over to our legal advisers to provide advice because a scan of google is inconclusive.