It has, so far, been a season to forget for Dubliner Brian Launders who was sacked by Colchester in October and after trials with Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Bolton and West Bromich Albion, has still to sign for a new club. He could, though, soon become one of the best known names in English football.

A fortnight ago a Football League tribunal rejected his claim against Colchester for unfair dismissal (for refusing to answer questions about an agreement he had signed with his agent, Barry Silkman). Silkman now claims that that ruling "establishes that refusal to answer a reasonable question constitutes a breach of contract" which could open the way for players, at every level, to break their contracts and leave their clubs. "It would mean that, say, Liverpool's Michael Owen could reasonably ask Gerard Houllier to name the clubs who have been enquiring about him. If Houllier refuses - and what manager would answer a question like that? - then Owen could claim breach of contract and claim a free transfer," argued Silkman. If he's right then Brian Launders will become as popular a name as Jean-Marc Bosman with English chairmen.