Oxford City have said Finn Tapp "has to finish the contract he has with the football club".
The 20-year-old footballer won the latest series of ‘Love Island’ alongside girlfriend Paige Turley last night (23.02.20), after the club claimed he had failed to tell them he was even taking part in the ITV2 dating show – but they are expecting him back to see out his current deal.
Mick Livesey, Oxford City’s commercial director, explained: "He was [in breach of his contract] but I think you need to take a pragmatic sort of view: A 20-year-old lad, he’s offered all this reality TV stuff.
"He has a contract, so he has to finish the contract he has with the football club.
"He’s done very, very well for us."
Mick admitted Finn’s decision to take part in ‘Love Island’ "hasn’t been ideal", and says the club will now insert clauses into new players’ contracts about potential TV appearances.
He added to BBC Radio Oxford: "I can assure you that all new players we sign from now on, we will be putting clauses in their contracts. I think we’re going to have to.
"We’re an ambitious football club, we’re going from strength to strength and we’re looking to build. This hasn’t been ideal. It is probably disruptive to the club and results."
In mid-January, the football club claimed via Twitter that they were "not aware" Finn – who joined the National League South side in the summer after he was released from League One outfit MK Dons – was appearing on the dating show, but they wished him luck.
A message on their Twitter account read: "The club was not aware Finn Tapp was going on Love Island – this is normal protocol for all contestants. We understand and wish Finn luck on the show."
Finn and Paige also stunned the bookies with victory during last night’s final.
Siannise Fudge and Luke Trotman, who finished second, had been heavily odds-on favourites to win the £50,000, but Finn and Paige took the title and the cash after host Laura Whitmore announced them as the winners.
Finn Tapp’s football club want him to see out his contract
