SWINDON Town may not be able to rely on the emergency loan window next term if new FIFA rules come into play.

The system was supposed to come to an end last year to protect the “sporting integrity of competitions” but officials decided to extend it for another year.

This meant that teams like Swindon could dip into the loan market and sign a player for a maximum of 93 days in two periods outside of the international transfer windows.

The word ‘emergency’ is a bit misleading as it does not have to be a genuine crisis for Football League clubs to use the loan system with sides using a loophole to bring in extra additions to their squad should they deem fit.

As a result Town were able to bring in the likes of Adam El-Abd, Ben Gladwin and Jake Kean, while Michael Smith and Jordan Stewart headed in the other direction to Portsmouth and Grimsby respectively.

However, FIFA have moved to close that loophole from the start of next season and clubs will be forced to abide by the transfer windows in the summer and January to conduct any of their business.

While this does not stop Swindon bringing in up to five loan players, the maximum you can have in a matchday squad, during the transfer windows provided, it does mean they will have to plan more carefully without the safety net of being able to pick up a midfielder should a couple of first team players pick up knocks.

It is a move that the Football Association are trying to fight against as they look to sanction an amendment that will result in that ban applying only to first-team football.

Instead of a club being able to borrow a player on a month-by-month emergency-loan contract, they would be allowed to agree a half-season or season-long deal, in which players could take part in either first-team matches for the loan clubs or non-first-team games for their parent side.

This could also be seen in a positive light for the club’s youth system as they will be called upon should Town suffer another injury crisis like they did on several occasions last term.

Will Henry grabbed that chance so in the long term it could be a blessing in disguise for those keen to see more homegrown talent coming through.