Duncan McGuire: Blackburn Rovers' signing of forward falls through after failed appeal

Duncan McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 for Orlando City, having been a first-round MLS SuperDraft pick at the start of the season

Blackburn's appeal against an English Football League decision to block the signing of Orlando City's Duncan McGuire - because the paperwork was submitted late - has been rejected.

A deal had been agreed for the 23-year-old forward to initially join on loan.

Despite completing the paperwork, the club admitted submitting it after the 23:00 GMT deadline on 1 February.

"The club is disappointed by the outcome, but accepts the decision of the EFL Board," a club statement said.

"Duncan McGuire will now return to Orlando at the earliest opportunity to re-join his club ahead of the start of the 2024 MLS season.

"As was previously communicated by the club, Rovers will fly over to the United States over the coming weeks to try to conclude a pre-contract agreement with Orlando City, so that he can officially become a Rovers player in the summer.

"Rovers wish to sincerely thank Duncan McGuire and the player's representative, as well as Orlando City and the supporters of both clubs, for their patience and understanding in this matter, which will hopefully reach a positive conclusion in due course."

The EFL stated that Rovers' argument in mitigation was that "all relevant details had been agreed, signed and uploaded onto the system in advance of 11pm".

But the board found that uploading the relevant documents into a draft application area "did not constitute sending documents to the EFL" and added that it was "not prepared to exercise discretion to permit the registration outside the window".

After Saturday's Championship defeat by QPR, Blackburn head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson said the club was in a "very serious situation", adding that he had offered to resign in the summer.