ANDY Hessenthaler has added his voice to the growing number of football managers who have criticised the new transfer window.

World governing body Fifa have pushed through a system whereby clubs will only be able sign new players during two months of the season – August and January.

The Football League are waiting to hear whether they can be exempt from the new regulations.

Gillingham's player-manager said: “I can't believe we're going along with it. Given the situation with the ITV Digital collapse and the general state of the transfer market I would have thought it would be sensible to give clubs more time to recover from such a blow.

“The main reason for my thinking is the financial problems a lot of clubs are having right now. Gillingham does not have a lot of money - and this isn't helping anyone.”

He said: “Picture this scenario. The bank comes knocking on the door in mid-October and say you've got to sell a player or they will close the club down. Where does that leave you?

“I'm not saying this situation applies to Gillingham but you get my point. You're in big trouble.

“We have one major asset in Nyron Nosworthy who clubs have been looking at and if we do desperately need to bring in some money it's not right that we can't sell him to a Premiership club when we want. A lower league club could possibly go out of business.”