Neil Moxley has criticized the transfer fees involved in Lewis Dobbin’s move from Everton to Aston Villa and subsequent loan to West Brom, calling it a “mockery of the rules.”

In an article for the Sunday People, Moxley argued that the £9million fee paid by Villa for the 20-year-old makes a mockery of the profit and sustainability rules. He pointed out that Dobbin made only one start for Everton last season, despite the team’s struggles with goals and injuries.

Moxley wrote: “Imagine being a fan of a Championship club that spent £10million on a new striker this summer. You’d be thrilled, thinking it’s a significant investment. But consider this: West Brom secured a loan move for Lewis Dobbin, who was bought by Aston Villa from Everton for that same amount. He was on the bench last week for the Baggies.”

Moxley’s criticism highlights concerns about the transparency and fairness of transfer deals in football, suggesting that clubs may be using creative accounting to circumvent financial regulations.

“The fact that Dobbin was loaned out to West Brom just weeks after joining Villa raises questions about the true nature of the transfer,” Moxley added. “Was the £9million fee simply a way for Villa to inflate their books and comply with FFP regulations?”

The controversy surrounding Dobbin’s transfer has sparked a wider debate about the need for greater transparency in football finances. With clubs increasingly using complex financial structures to navigate regulations, critics argue that the system is ripe for abuse.

As one football finance expert noted, “The use of loan deals and inflated transfer fees can be a way for clubs to manipulate their finances and gain an unfair advantage. It’s time for regulators to take a closer look at these practices and ensure that clubs are playing by the rules.”