Nottingham Forest will benefit from big changes to the football calendar announced by FIFA, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With football currently suspended indefinitely, and uncertainty about when or if the season will finish, it has led to a number of issues for governing bodies to tackle.
Not least the situation surrounding contracts and the transfer window.
As with many clubs, the Reds have several players whose deals are due to expire at the end of June, after what should have been the conclusion of the 2019/20 campaign.
If matches now need to be played beyond that date - as seems likely - several key members of the senior squad would currently not be obliged to pull on the Garibaldi.
But FIFA now say: "Expiring player contracts usually end when the season ends, with a termination date that coincides with the end of the season.
"With the current suspension of play in most countries, it is now obvious that the current season will not end when people thought it would.
"Therefore, it is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end. This should be in line with the original intention of the parties when the contract was signed and should also preserve sporting integrity and stability.
"A similar principle applies to contracts due to begin when the new season starts, meaning the entry into force of such contracts is delayed until the next season actually does start."
And that will come as a boost for Forest, as they will hope to be able to resume their promotion push when it is safe to do so.
The Reds have 11 players whose contracts are due to run out on June 30, and who would benefit from FIFA’s plans.
They are:
Michael Dawson
Sammy Ameobi
Ben Watson
Jordan Smith
Yohan Benalouane
Luke Steele (on loan at Millwall)
Liam Bridcutt (on loan at Lincoln City)
John Bostock (on loan from Toulouse)
Arijanet Muric (on loan from Manchester City)
Adama Diakhaby (on loan from Huddersfield Town)
Alfa Semedo (on loan from Benfica)
Manager Sabri Lamouchi’s deal is also set to expire at the same time as he put pen to paper on a one-year contract when he replaced Martin O’Neill in the City Ground hot seat.
