EVERTON F.C. and Bristol Rovers F.C.
On the production of an Agreement dated the 28th May 1930
and signed by A. H. Boxall a Director of Bristol Rovers F.C. giving
the Everton F.C. an option at a fee stated therein on the transfer
of the registration of R. N. Dix and which option Bristol Rovers has
not honoured the Management Committee had instructed the Secretary
of the League not to accept any form transferring the registration
of such player other than in accordance with such Agreement until
the circumstances therewith had been fully investigated.
The Bristol Rovers F.C. thereupon asked that such inquiry
should take place and for the removal of the embargo on the transfer
on the grounds that the Agreement contained no time limit during
which it should be exercised and that the player refused to sign
the form transferring his registration to the Everton F.C.
A Sub Committee consisting of the President and Messrs. C. E.
Sutcliffe, F. W. Rinder, and P. Bach, investigated the matter fully
on Monday 23rd March 1931 and reported as follows:—
The Agreement produced was admitted to be signed by Mr. A. H.
Boxall a Director for and on beha1f of the Bristol Rovers Club and
its accuracy and validity was unchallenged. The Agreement provided
for the transfer of the registration of a player by the Everton F.C.
to Bristol Rovers and in consideration of such transfer Bristol
Rovers F.C. gave the Everton F.C. the option of receiving from them
the transfer of the Professional and League Registrations of Ronald
Dix and another player at fixed fee. We are satisfied the option
was signed by Mr. Boxall in good faith and to the knowledge of his
Club.
There are two outstanding and important incidents connected
with the Agreement upon which we feel it incumbent to make certain
recommendations. First that Bristol Rovers did not take the
precaution to fix a time limit during which the option was to be
exercised and second that the players over whose registrations the
option of transfer were given were never consulted before the option
