FIFPro, the world footballers' union, is currently embroiled in a legal battle via the European Commission with the aim of abolishing the current transfer system arguing that it is illegal and anti-competitive.

Didulica said the player’s union was keeping an eye on the progress of FIFPro’s legal action due to the effect it could have on the practice of clubs claiming Training Compensation Fees (TCF).

“The FIFA rules relating to training compensation are long-standing and apply equally to all clubs across the world,” he said.

“FIFPro, the global players’ association, has recognised that the application of those rules at different times has, among other things, caused significant hardship for players and are challenging the system.

“We are watching the outcome of that complaint closely and the outcome is likely to have an impact on young Australian players moving overseas.”

TCF is a complex formula set by FIFA and apply when an amateur footballer signs a professional contract with an overseas club, with the teams he played for from ages 12 - 23 being due compensation.

Dan Chapman, a sports lawyer and football agent based in the UK, said young Aussie footballers have suffered due to stubborn attitudes relating to fees.

 “I have had a personal experience of a player losing the opportunity to sign for a League One club in England because his Australian club would not move on their entitlements,” he said.

“It does seem that Australian clubs are – in general terms – perceived to be less flexible in terms of waiving or re-negotiating their compensation rights than clubs from other countries are.”

Ollie Driscoll has two sons who came through the youth ranks with both playing overseas and he believes lower-tier Australian clubs are more inclined to waive their rights to any compensation.

“When I first took my lads for trials to the UK in 2013 several clubs stated that unless I could provide “Waivers” from my son’s junior clubs there was no point trialling,” he said.

 “My youngest Liam, did all his development at NPL level and his junior clubs were all very keen for Training Compensation not to get in the way of him getting an opportunity of a lifetime.

“NPL clubs are much more flexible with their negotiations and are happy for one of their players to get such an opportunity.

“I firmly believe that if my youngest son had spent any time at an A-League club it would be highly unlikely that he would have received the scholarship offer he did.”

A father of a local Australian player who wished to remain anonymous said after being offered a contract abroad all his son's junior clubs waived their compensation fee, but the top-flight club held firm.

“The overseas club were talking about not signing him if the A-League club demanded the full amount of money as he was only with them for less than 12 months,” he said.  

“So, his career would have finished before it even started.

“It makes it difficult for young players to go from here straight overseas. It’s forcing young players here to go through an A-League pathway which is ridiculous because we only have 10 A-League clubs.”