Transfer window system needs changing says PNE boss

Grayson is no fan of the window still being open for the opening weeks of the season.

A change is unlikely though, with the transfer window governed by FIFA and countries starting their seasons at different times.

In England, the Premier League tends to start a week later than the Football League.

However, Grayson thinks it is something worth looking at and there are many in the game who have the same view.

“I would advocate a change, I don’t see why the window is still open once you have started the season,” said Grayson.

“It upsets players, not just at this club, but clubs right across the country.

“Last weekend, Fernando Forestieri did not play for Sheffield Wednesday because people had got in his head and talked about a move.

“I personally think the window should shut on the Friday before the start of the season.

“Everyone would know where they are for when it all matters.

“Whether this could happen or not, I don’t know.

“I think it would be better for clubs knowing what they had to work with.

“Players aren’t going to get their heads turned potentially until the January window.”

With striker Joe Garner heading to Rangers – the deal should be completed later this week – Grayson envisages being busy before the deadline.

He wants reinforcements to help get the Lilywhites’ season up-and-running after their poor start.

Tuesday night’s defeat to Derby was their third league defeat in a row – it is the first time for 27 years that PNE have lost their opening three league games of the season.

In the 1989/90 campaign, they were beaten by Rotherham, Bury and Leyton Orient.

Grayson said: “While we felt sorry for ourselves after the game on Tuesday, we can’t let that hang over us.

“We will be ready to go again, we have the belief and we’ll take the positives from what we did in Tuesday night’s game against Derby who have one of the strongest squads in the division.

“Derby’s manager Nigel Pearson and everyone in the ground will know they were fortunate to win the game.

“The goal was unfortunate, the one thing you didn’t want was their 6ft 2ins left-back attacking a cross against Ben Pringle who is 5ft 8.

“At the other end, we had some good play in and around the box, there was some good combination play between Callum Robinson, Eoin Doyle, Jermaine Beckford at times, and Jordan Hugill when he came on.

“Unfortunately, that was not quite good enough to get a goal and that is something to work on.

“Hopefully, the breaks will start to come and we can start to put points on the board.

“We didn’t start too well last season and finished 11th, but we need to get back to winning ways quickly.

“The belief and spirit among the players was there on Tuesday night.

“We now head to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, we’ll do our work for that one.

“After that, we have the cup game and then it is back to the league at Ipswich, so it is a busy spell.”