Trialist Williams caught up in Blatter nonsense

The 24-year-old Dubliner was playing for Sporting Fingal in January when Celtic made a bid for him, which was turned down. Since then his club has gone out of business leaving Williams without a club.

However, because it was February when they closed it means the player didn't become a free agent until after the transfer window closed and therefore he cannot be registered by another club.

It gets more ridiculous. Should Burnley follow up their interest with a bid he could sign now but would not be able to play for us until next season, but he could then be loaned out to a club in the League of Ireland and it is believed both Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians would be keen to take him on that basis.

Williams has previously played for Drogheda and Dundalk, the latter on loan in 2007, but the 2010 season saw him come to prominence with Fingal. He won the Players Football Association of Ireland Young Player of the Year Award, played against Manchester United in a select team from the Airtricity League and represented the Republic of Ireland in an under-23 game.

But that counts for nothing with Fifa - well certainly not until the next transfer window opens.