I always thought that the football testimonial match/year was very specifically only after 10 years because the monies earned were tax free for the player in those circumstances.
Hence the reason players don't get granted testimonials earlier.
I found the answer to my own question, I believe. The first £50k of monies earned by a player in a testimonial season is free of NIC and income tax. Changed in 2017.
Makes some sense, Footballers at higher levels were making good money for years and then dodging tax on a good pay off. £50k isn't a bad start as you move on to a new career. It's not as if you're actually retiring at 35.
I believe the tax free element of a testimonial season was raised to £100k although I would have thought for a relatively lowly supported club like WWFC it would be quite challenging for JJ or anyone else to raise a figure of that level. While it was traditional for players to need to serve 10 years before being granted a testimonial, I am not aware that that period is set in stone, indeed HMRC would frown at a system that made such an income a de facto contractural right rather than a gift at the discretion of the club employer.
Is there any indication that the Couhigs are going to be cutting the cloth? The losses seem largely due to the desire to invest and the level at which the budget has been set to, not suggesting that we shouldn't do so but I'm also not sure it's something we are expecting.
You get the feeling it'll be a huge summer don't you, especially if we don't go up.
Quite a few out of contract, possibly a bit of pressure to sell Mehmeti with 1 year to go on his deal, and a real decision from the owners, who seem to be losing interest a bit, how they want to proceed.
Something like 15 OOC last time I checked (I can't remember if that included AAH and Parsons). Horgan is all but off and I expect Vokes will be too - they've got to be the two highest earners bar Mawson, who's also bound to leave as a free agent.
As always it depends what other deals are out there.
In the meantime, we need to enjoy having all of them, especially Mawson, as it's absolutely ridiculous having him in his 20s back here in the third tier.
Pointless worrying about Vokes and Mawson leaving. The fact they came here in the first place shows how little most of know about what goes into signing a player.
I'm doubtful as to whether Vokes could still cut it in the Champ - and if we don't go up, we can't realistically afford to keep him if we're being sensible. If Mawson gets through the season injury-free, I fully expect he'll get a good Champ offer whether we go up or not.
But I suppose it partially depends on how much we get for Mehmeti - and if the fee wipes out that 3m deficit, do we then overspend again in anticipation of selling Forino in the next 12-18 months?
Yup, It's not as if Ainsworth gas been overspending the budget, We've been told the owners are continuing to set big budgets. it really isn't quite the same thing however dangerous it might be.
Continuing the downer tone today ... I don't think Vokes would be in the strongest contract negotiation position come the summer. 33, coming on 34 and 3 goals in 22 games doesn't scream pay rise.
To be fair, my biggest concern is if both Mawson and Taffs leave, so that we only have Forino at CB, though I am sure we would get someone else in. If Mehmeti, the big earners and older players leave but Taffs stays, I would not be upset to see a starting lineup like:
Stryjek
Grimmer
Forino
Taffs
Obita/new LB
Thompson
Scowen
Wing
Wheeler
Freeman
Hanlan
That might not be as strong as our current first XI, but no slouches, and a great platform to build off again. Considering I have not even mentioned the likes of Gape, McCarthy and Kaikai, we would not be in the worst spot.
GA has said “there is money available” in January (and he didn’t imply that said money was dependent on us selling Mehmeti) and that the Couhigs would back this.
But yes, just because there’s money available in theory doesn’t mean we should spend it just for the hell of it, given the eye-watering losses which people are rightly concerned about, especially with the Couhigs maybe tiring of their plaything.
GA has also implied that the “shit or bust” model is not one he endorses, and that any new signings will be made if and only if he can get the right signing at the right price, not just adding players for the sake of it.
I feel you probably get worse value for money in the January window as you get both ends of the spectrum, the shit-or-bust promotion clubs thinking they can boost their chances with just that one special player, or the relegation dogfight clubs desperately trying to spend their way out of trouble, and maybe having to pay over the odds to attract players.
We need to add depth at CF and LB, and a RB upgrade, but we're - as we were last year, when I think we only signed Young (?) - in excellent shape compared to January windows gone by.
Comments
Surely we don't have any fans who would moan at JJ being honoured?
We have fans who'd moan if we won the Champions League
I always thought that the football testimonial match/year was very specifically only after 10 years because the monies earned were tax free for the player in those circumstances.
Hence the reason players don't get granted testimonials earlier.
I found the answer to my own question, I believe. The first £50k of monies earned by a player in a testimonial season is free of NIC and income tax. Changed in 2017.
Makes some sense, Footballers at higher levels were making good money for years and then dodging tax on a good pay off. £50k isn't a bad start as you move on to a new career. It's not as if you're actually retiring at 35.
If we can't quite make it to a JJ testimonial, can he at least get a testy moan?
Ooh err
Looks like I must have been mistaken in thinking this was Wendoverian style irony.
Ooh er, matron.
Please don’t spend any money on new players
(also a fairly miserable post I admit)
If we have the seasons debt reported we need to sell our most valuable assets and let go of a couple of our big earners.
I believe the tax free element of a testimonial season was raised to £100k although I would have thought for a relatively lowly supported club like WWFC it would be quite challenging for JJ or anyone else to raise a figure of that level. While it was traditional for players to need to serve 10 years before being granted a testimonial, I am not aware that that period is set in stone, indeed HMRC would frown at a system that made such an income a de facto contractural right rather than a gift at the discretion of the club employer.
Is there any indication that the Couhigs are going to be cutting the cloth? The losses seem largely due to the desire to invest and the level at which the budget has been set to, not suggesting that we shouldn't do so but I'm also not sure it's something we are expecting.
You get the feeling it'll be a huge summer don't you, especially if we don't go up.
Quite a few out of contract, possibly a bit of pressure to sell Mehmeti with 1 year to go on his deal, and a real decision from the owners, who seem to be losing interest a bit, how they want to proceed.
Something like 15 OOC last time I checked (I can't remember if that included AAH and Parsons). Horgan is all but off and I expect Vokes will be too - they've got to be the two highest earners bar Mawson, who's also bound to leave as a free agent.
Corr we’re all rather positive today aren’t we
I wouldn't rule out any of them staying.
As always it depends what other deals are out there.
In the meantime, we need to enjoy having all of them, especially Mawson, as it's absolutely ridiculous having him in his 20s back here in the third tier.
Pointless worrying about Vokes and Mawson leaving. The fact they came here in the first place shows how little most of know about what goes into signing a player.
But we can safely assume they're on hefty wages - and we've been told how much we've overspent
I'm doubtful as to whether Vokes could still cut it in the Champ - and if we don't go up, we can't realistically afford to keep him if we're being sensible. If Mawson gets through the season injury-free, I fully expect he'll get a good Champ offer whether we go up or not.
But I suppose it partially depends on how much we get for Mehmeti - and if the fee wipes out that 3m deficit, do we then overspend again in anticipation of selling Forino in the next 12-18 months?
Good point - I could definitely see us "riding again" if we get enough money for Anis. But sooner or later, we either need to go up or cut our cloth.
Yup, It's not as if Ainsworth gas been overspending the budget, We've been told the owners are continuing to set big budgets. it really isn't quite the same thing however dangerous it might be.
Continuing the downer tone today ... I don't think Vokes would be in the strongest contract negotiation position come the summer. 33, coming on 34 and 3 goals in 22 games doesn't scream pay rise.
To be fair, my biggest concern is if both Mawson and Taffs leave, so that we only have Forino at CB, though I am sure we would get someone else in. If Mehmeti, the big earners and older players leave but Taffs stays, I would not be upset to see a starting lineup like:
Stryjek
Grimmer
Forino
Taffs
Obita/new LB
Thompson
Scowen
Wing
Wheeler
Freeman
Hanlan
That might not be as strong as our current first XI, but no slouches, and a great platform to build off again. Considering I have not even mentioned the likes of Gape, McCarthy and Kaikai, we would not be in the worst spot.
If it’s really ‘promotion or bust,’ we need to be signing players, not worrying about them leaving.
He’s injured now
And this is how I blow the fact I've only been to one game in the last 3 months 😂
GA has said “there is money available” in January (and he didn’t imply that said money was dependent on us selling Mehmeti) and that the Couhigs would back this.
But yes, just because there’s money available in theory doesn’t mean we should spend it just for the hell of it, given the eye-watering losses which people are rightly concerned about, especially with the Couhigs maybe tiring of their plaything.
GA has also implied that the “shit or bust” model is not one he endorses, and that any new signings will be made if and only if he can get the right signing at the right price, not just adding players for the sake of it.
I feel you probably get worse value for money in the January window as you get both ends of the spectrum, the shit-or-bust promotion clubs thinking they can boost their chances with just that one special player, or the relegation dogfight clubs desperately trying to spend their way out of trouble, and maybe having to pay over the odds to attract players.
We need to add depth at CF and LB, and a RB upgrade, but we're - as we were last year, when I think we only signed Young (?) - in excellent shape compared to January windows gone by.