Sunday Supplement: Loan deals are corrupting for all involved, says Martin Samuel

Martin Samuel has questioned the transparency of the current loan system and its potentially corrupting nature, after Newcastle loaned five players to Rangers.

Mike Ashley owns Newcastle, and he also has a 10 per cent holding in the Scottish club. While there is no suggestion any rules have been broken, the Sunday Supplement panel felt there were definitely some moral issues arising from the situation.

Rangers caretaker-manager Kenny McDowall had said he was told to play the five loaned players, although his claims were denied by both Newcastle and Rangers.

Daily Mail journalist Samuel said: “If there is any suggestion that they have to play the loan players, then I can’t see what the difference is [between that] and third-party interference. That’s another club picking your team. Which is why everyone scrambled together very quickly to deny that story.”

He continued: "I think the loan system is a corrupting influence. Loaning five players from one club, yes, they are not going to compete in the same competition but it's not helpful. If you’re in the development staff at Rangers, for instance, you’ll be wondering why your club is more interested in developing Newcastle players.

“There are just problems all over. If you go to Italy, look at Parma who have a playing staff of close to 200 players not including academy players that are loaned out everywhere. It's not right. They've got six or seven players parked at clubs in the third division. They have five or six parked at a club in Slovenia.

“UEFA, FIFA and the FA have got to get to grips with this. More and more problems are being created by this. Every year there is new controversy around the loan system.

"Last season we had Atletico Madrid; [Thibaut] Courtois playing against Chelsea, if Atletico play him they've got to give Chelsea five million quid. Then UEFA come in. It's not right. It's like the Wild West. Everyone wants to run their shop with someone else's stock."

When Chelsea faced Atletico Madrid in last season's Champions League, it was suggested that the La Liga side would have to pay Chelsea if Courtois were to play against his parent club. Ultimately, Courtois played in the tie at no extra cost to Atletico.