further controversy was to come when he was declared to be a professional by the football association. he had accepted a set of furniture from clapton as a wedding gift and the fa had deemed this to be a form of payment. both earle and the club unsuccessfully appealed. as a result, earle signed as a professional with notts county, where he played in the football league for one season. he continued to be the trainer of west ham schools throughout his playing career and beyond his retirement, leaving the role in 1912.