Quote Originally Posted by tarquinbeech View Post
Ben Davies wasn't a "free agent" as such.....Shrewsbury offered him a contract which he declined to join Notts?

ps have you noticed how he has stopped scoring goals since he left Notts.....20 for Notts in 67 games...only 16 for his next 4 clubs combined, 176 games

Neal Bishop was the same....offered a contract by Barnet where he was already club captain, but declined the contract to join Notts

Are we talking about 2 different things....free agents was the subject of the thread, whereas you are talking about free transfers (probably for better wages!!)?
If you turn down a contract offer and sign for another club it's a free transfer, Shrewsbury had no say in Davies signing for Notts as his contract with them ran out (as he declined their offer) and thus he was a free agent when he signed his Notts contract. Regardless of how long you spend between the two contracts, there is a time where they are unattached. Your second post with the section from the FA literally says as much.

The only difference is if you're under 24 and decline a contract on the same or better terms as your last deal and a club signs you on a free they will have to pay "compensation" to the club they get the player from which is usually decided by tribunal.

As for Ben Davies not scoring as much when he left Notts, part of it was that he didn't do that well at Derby and probably wasn't an automatic first choice for their set pieces like he was here and another part of it is that he transitioned in to a full back where he's obviously much less likely to score.