Well it’s certainly a shame we won’t see the lad play for Crewe. I’m not sure we can hang this on EPPP though. The reported upfront fee seems higher than that which the formula for determining compensation would’ve provided. I believe the boy has only been in Crewe’s Academy since he was 11 or 12. The two clubs have obviously negotiated a private deal, especially so if they’ve agreed upon ‘add-ons’ for future first team appearances; such add-ons are not allowed for within the EPPP. Such a private deal was always possible pre-EPPP, and if anything you could say it’s encouraging at least, that such deals are still possible for one of his age, who hadn’t even yet progressed to Crewe’s own scholarship.