Friday 8 September 2017 09:36, UK
Mark Schwarzer has warned the summer transfer window will be "even more chaotic" after Premier League clubs voted to bring forward the deadline.
Fourteen top-flight clubs voted in favour of an early closure, meaning the window will now close at 5pm on the Thursday, August 9, before the opening weekend of the 2018/19 campaign.
It's a move designed to end disruption and allow clubs to focus on their football but, with the World Cup taking place in Russia next year, Schwarzer fears bedlam will ensue.
"Next season is going to be even more chaotic as players will be going off and preparing for the World Cup," the former Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea and Leicester goalkeeper told The Debate.
"While they're at the World Cup, very few players will want to transfer because they will want to concentrate on the tournament.
"The players are then back at their clubs in July and, with the season starting earlier next season, there is going to be a month of just chaos."
The new rules relate to the buying of players, so Premier League clubs will still be able to sell players to other leagues whose transfer windows remain open into as far as September.
The transfer window for the English Football League also remains unaffected, with clubs able to sell to lower division sides unless the EFL decides to bring its window in line with the top flight.
A lack of consistency across the divisions, coupled with the shortening of the window when a major tournament is staged every two years, raised concerns for Stuart Pearce, who joined Schwarzer on The Debate.
"It's a problem because, at this moment in time, a lot of business takes place on the last few days of the window," he added.
"The uncertainty created by the early deadline will drip down into the EFL, who will not be able to make their moves.
"When the window is condensed due to a major tournament, there will be little movement until the top players move, and then the next rung and then the next rung."
