I dont believe all is as clear cut with Lovegrove just yet and there are still avenues to go down to claim home grown status.

As far as I understand it any player that had a SL contract pre Jan 2008 could on renewal apply and be granted fed trained status which would mean that Clint is now fed trained if he so wished and in fact the only player on our books that isn't applicable is Dobson.
This ruling stays with the player even if they change clubs after they have been granted the fed trained status.
And btw I dont like it but that is how I belive it works.

I think the new ruling as I have mentioned above has made the situation is he home grown or fed trained.

The dispensation applies to players signed before July 2007 when the original rules where introduced on the grounds it's not fair on the players concerned to just "get rid" if they plan to stay with the same team.

This dispensation would apply to Vella, Fisher, Makali & Stan even though they still count against the quota when signing [iother[/i players.

Lovegrove got a 2 year dispensation though as Nick says, there are avenues to go down regarding the homegrown rule with him arriving here when he was only 20 which was a pretty big deal for a 20yr old moving from Aus.

As it stands we have 7 players that count against the 8 spots we're allowed and with the quota going down to 6 next season, I assume someone else will have to make way.

This is where it get confusing because the way it was worded at the time would suggest it was any players signed before the actual 2008 season started.
Not saying your wrong but that was the impression at the time.
Surely if rules were brought in during July 07 then it would be strange as that is mid season.

July '07 is when the original rules were set which is why it was a reference point when the dispensation was introduced late last year and players signed after July '07 count against the quota.

Sorry mate but [url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/home/news_item.php?id=12114THIS[/url says diffrent.

Cool, just thought it was the first time they were introduced.

No problems.
Like I said it does lead to the rather strange situation where everyone of our players Dobson aside on renewal will be fed trained if they so wish, As taking Newton into account I would assume that on signing of a new deal his old contract would be classed as 'ended' and I can't see why anyone would turn down the fed trained status.
So Clint is probably now an aussie fed trained player and is completly free to play where ever he want's with no restrictions what so ever.

As far as I'm aware the deal he just signed only starts at the end of his current one, therefore he is still classed as overseas until then.

Then he is fed trained next year either way he comes off the quota .
Dont agree with it myself but there it is.