Changes to the loan rules have scuppered Town's chances of signing Newcastle United striker Andrew Carroll on loan, according to Magpies manager Sam Allardyce. However, the Football League have told TWTD the former Bolton boss's understanding of their loan system is incorrect.

Allardyce told a newspaper in the North-East that all four divisions will be subject to the same rules for the season ahead: “The loan system has changed in the Football League this year, and has now converted to the same system we have to put up with, which is only year-long loans.

“You can't do any more emergency loans, or one, two or three-month loans. It means if I'm going to let a player go on loan, it's effectively a short-term transfer.

“There's no call-back or recall. And the last thing I want to do is leave myself short if anything happens.”

The paper cites a proposed short-term Carroll loan at Portman Road and Hartlepool's targeting of fellow youngster Tim Krul as deals which have been prevented from taking place due to the new rules.

However, a Football League spokesman told TWTD that Allardyce's understanding of the situation is wrong: “The loan system next season will be exactly the same as last season.”

Carroll, 18, has made seven senior sub appearances for Newcastle and became the youngest player to appear in Europe when he made his debut in the UEFA Cup tie in Palermo last November.

The 6ft 3in tall striker carried off the Wor Jackie Milburn Trophy earlier this year, an award given to the North-East's most promising young player.

Gateshead-born Carroll, who qualifies for both England and Scotland, is yet to score a senior goal but great things are expected of him on Tyneside and in April he signed a contract keeping him at St James' Park until 2011. Town coach Charlie Woods will know Carroll well from his time working alongside Sir Bobby Robson in the North-East.

Boss Jim Magilton is keen to sign a striker over the summer with former loanee Franny Jeffers his number one target. Released Middlesbrough man Malcolm Christie - who has held talks with Nottingham Forest and Stoke - and former Blue Pablo Couñago have also been linked, suggesting Magilton is after a player with significantly more experience than Carroll.

However, the lanky Newcastle frontman, compared to Peter Crouch by former boss Glenn Roeder, could be an alternative to Alan Lee if the Republic of Ireland striker moves on this summer. Coventry, Preston and Hull have all been linked with last season's 17-goal top scorer, but Magilton has repeatedly said that the 28-year-old will not be leaving Portman Road.

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