796EFC-1-1-19_0296c.tif
		was given. The Everton F.C. were justified in assuming that they
		had a reasonable time in which to exercise such option and that
		the players had been made aware of the intention of Bristol Rovers
		to give such Option.

			Everton F.C. carried out their part of the Agreement and
		early in June decided to exercise their option, notified Bristol
		Rovers F.C. officially of such decision and asked that the two
		players should be brought for an interview with the intention of
		carrying through the transfers. It is a matter of importance
		and admitted on all hands that whilst one player was taken for
		the interview and the transfer completed Dix was not taken nor
		indeed asked to go and it was not until the 20th January 1931
		when the Agreement giving the option was produced to Dix that he
		or his parent were aware of the existence of such Agreement and
		option.

			From the admissions of the representatives of Bristol Rovers
		F.C. the player and his father, we had no hesitation in coming to
		the conclusion that the Club was remiss in not first of all
		obtaining Dix’s consent to the proposed arrangement. If that
		course were not possible then immediately the option had been given
		the player should have been told of the option given
		and if he declined to be a party to the transfer, the Everton F.C.
		should have been informed thereof immediately.

			Having regard to the evidence which revealed the fact that
		the Chairman of the Everton F.C. offered that if Bristol Rovers
		would instruct their secretary to sign the transfer form and the
		players refused to sign  he would burn  the option which offer was refused,
		and more particularly to the statements of the player and his
		father as to their ignorance of the option given we are satisfied
		that Bristol Rovers F.C. have been unwilling to carry out their
		obligation to the Everton Club under the Agreement and continually
		declined to do so and the plea of the players refusal was not the
		true reason for their refusal to sign the transfer form.

						2.