
TRANSFER_MANAGER::setup_free_transfer() : staff has trial contract
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- xECK29x
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TRANSFER_MANAGER::setup_free_transfer() : staff has trial contract
Came across this error during testing, couldn't find any reference to it on the forum. Anyone ever experience this before or have an idea what it might be? I assume it's someone, either human GM or CPU GM attempting to hire someone on a trial contract that is preventing the transfer? Doesn't seem to make too much sense. Wouldn't even know where to start debugging this.


- archibalduk
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TRANSFER_MANAGER::setup_free_transfer() : staff has trial contract
It's not one I've heard of before. I tried a forum and Google search and no previous reports are coming up. It sounds like an issue with a person's contract in the database or a Transfer Rules setting. Note that "staff" in EHM can refer to a player or a non-player.
- TurboJ
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TRANSFER_MANAGER::setup_free_transfer() : staff has trial contract
I just got the same error message. Playing NHL with the latest TBL rosters. Late summer 2025 this came up. No crash yet but will keep an eye on whether the savegame is compromised. That would be the second time losing a savegame after ~200 hours of gameplay....
EDIT: The pop-up window now comes up again every day that passes; still no crash but something isn't right.
EDIT: The pop-up window now comes up again every day that passes; still no crash but something isn't right.
- TurboJ
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TRANSFER_MANAGER::setup_free_transfer() : staff has trial contract
OK, seems this issue has to do with a player with some relation to the team you are managing. In my case there were two strange phenomena going on when this error message was appearing.
1. I had a signed prospect on my roster but despite him being junior eligible and recently having played in a WHL team, I was unable to send him back to juniors.
2. I had made an offer to a free agent a while ago; since then that player had agreed to a contract to several other teams, but upon confirming the deal the teams always canceled the deal, leaving my bid open.
I suspect the second phenomenon was the culprit. There was something odd going on with that player as he was bounced back and forth from free agency and new contracts several times; that could have been the actual bug. Once I withdrew my bid, the error message went away for good and the player in quesion signed normally with the next team that made him an offer.
1. I had a signed prospect on my roster but despite him being junior eligible and recently having played in a WHL team, I was unable to send him back to juniors.
2. I had made an offer to a free agent a while ago; since then that player had agreed to a contract to several other teams, but upon confirming the deal the teams always canceled the deal, leaving my bid open.
I suspect the second phenomenon was the culprit. There was something odd going on with that player as he was bounced back and forth from free agency and new contracts several times; that could have been the actual bug. Once I withdrew my bid, the error message went away for good and the player in quesion signed normally with the next team that made him an offer.
- archibalduk
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TRANSFER_MANAGER::setup_free_transfer() : staff has trial contract
TurboJ - I would highly recommend posting these details on the SI Bugs Forum too. It might be something Riz can look at/fix for a future update. If you still have a saved game with the issue then you can also upload it for him to take a look at: https://community.sigames.com/topic/345275-ftp-details/