Football League chiefs have announced that from next season Nationwide League clubs will be able to take more players on loan. Last year Town had a number of players who spent long periods with Nationwide League teams including Richard Naylor, Gary Croft and James Pullen, who spent the entire year with Blackpool.

From next season clubs will be able to have four long-term loanees and four short-term. Clubs will be able to have an emergency goalkeeper in addition to the eight other loanees.

It is therefore possible for a club to have nine loan players at any one time, however, they will only be allowed to name five in a matchday squad.

Town have used the loan system to their advantage in the past, with Jamie Clapham, Jason Cundy and Jim Magilton all joining on a short-term basis before signing permanently.

The Blues have also had some less notable short-termers with Gerry Creaney, Jonathan Hunt and Michael Clegg perhaps the worst.

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