Ivan Varfolomeev has proven to be a huge hit for Lincoln City this season, but that does come at a cost.
We’re not talking about the estimated £400,000 we paid for him, but instead the fact he took up one of our two ESC (Elite Significant Contribution) slots. An ESC slot is a quota that allows clubs to sign overseas players who fail to meet the standard Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points requirements for a UK work permit.
Once a player plays a certain percentage of minutes over a set period, their ESC status can be upgraded to a standard GBE work permit. Upgrading them frees up the ESC slot so the club can sign another overseas player.Given that Ivan featured sparingly during the first four months of his time at the club, it felt like he might take up an ESC slot in the Championship, one of four we are currently allowed.
Speaking exclusively to the Stacey West, sporting director Jez George explained that we are hoping Ivan has converted, but the process isn’t entirely straightforward.
“Basically, Ivan has to play 60% of available minutes over the period of time from when he joined in the first 12 months for us to be able to then apply for him to convert from ESC to GBE, which effectively means he’s got a full visa,” said Jez.
That isn’t the end of it. Instead of simple maths, there are other hurdles to get over, one in particular which Ivan has now passed.
“He then has to do a couple of other things, like pass an English test, which he did last week to renew his visa. So he’s happy about that because he said to me now he doesn’t have to do any more English lessons.”
As expected, the calculation for the available minutes wasn’t straightforward, but it may account for Ivan’s extended game time in the final weeks of the season, where he often featured for a full 90 despite promotion being secured and the league being won.
“We were pretty tight in terms of numbers and a couple of injuries at the end of the season made it tighter.
“Just to give you an example, from the moment he signed for the first four months up to 25th of August, 25th of December, he was on about 20% of minutes.”
“From Stockport to the end of the season, he was on about 80% of the minutes. So the trend was getting quicker and quicker and quicker towards the 60%, but it was a race to 60% that we probably got over the line literally within the last couple of games of the season.”
The Imps now present that data to the governing body and await the outcome, as Jez explained.
“What happens now is Matthew Murgett, our football administrator, he collects all of that information. We then send that to the FA on the opening of the transfer window, which is the 14th of June.”
“There is a process that we give them all of that information. And then literally the FA then come back to us and say, yeah, that’s fine. Tick, he’s converted. He then goes on to GBE status and it opens up that ESC slot for us.”
“So really, really important that”
Our other ESC player is Erik Ring, signed from AIK almost two seasons ago. His situation is different, as he is not going to convert.
“Obviously Eric hasn’t done that. So that’s an issue for us, no doubt.”
“But really important when we do sign these players, if possible, we’re really striving for that 60% of minutes because without that, they hold one of those places.”
Our promotion to the Championship will (hopefully) see us able to fill four ESC slots. As the English market is considered to be inflated, often you find value for money in Europe, but you have to balance those incomings with the number of slots. That is why it is important Ivan converts and, perhaps, why we might see Erik Ring depart the club over the summer.
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