Yeah it’s a bit silly. It’s highly likely we had a bid or a few bids for him from QPR. If he’s getting bids, then I’m sure he can get a whole load of interest on a free transfer.
Exactly. I would prefer to call it great business to sign a young guy no one had heard of and without paying a fee, and see him develop into a player that other clubs are interested in acquiring.
Chris's injury record may count against him a little. Obviously it would be hard to turn down more money from a glamour club but it may be better for his long term prospects if the medics are confident injury issues are behind him to sign a one year deal with us, play every game to prove his fitness and, if he smashes it, bigger and better (and higher paid) opportunities may open up this time next season.
Chris is an excellent player but let's not forget, even when fit, he was often third choice in central defence for us this season. We were all surprised to see him picked at Wembley and it's only since then he's cemented his place as one of the first choice names.
If he's third choice in a mid-table League One side, it's hard to see him being a likely starter in any Championship team.
I suspect he'll move on but I think it'll be a Lewis Wing-style move. There may be a few Championship teams taking a sniff but ultimately he'll sign for a bigger League One team offering a higher salary than we can.
Completely agree. He is very limited on the ball for Championship level. Great player for us. I don’t want to see him go. But let’s not get carried away.
Given that our sustainability model involves : find diamond in the rough / develop/ sell - then it would seem, with only a few months left on his contract, we either didn’t get an offer for Chris or felt we could out bid any Summer offer he may get, or most likely have a contract agreement in place if he fails to get a more attractive offer only to be announced as and when. Just letting him slide away is clearly not a viable business option.
I'm sure after the meetings this week we will have a clearer vision of what is ahead for the summer. Come Thursday I hope Matt puts his out of office on for a few days and enjoys a recharge. Maybe the Gasroom should have a closed season too
There's a million possibilities but it seems most likely that we have been speaking to Chris and representatives about a new deal for some time. That could well be gaining outline figures that would then probably change if he was offered more elsewhere.
He's more attractive to other clubs on a free but that doesn't mean he's had lots of of offers or would accept every offer that comes along.
I believe he was going to QPR but they wouldn't pay whatever we wanted last year, maybe their owners didn't value him as highly as Ainsworth did. Should he get another job elsewhere you'd imagine he'd come in for him again.
Letting him slide away for nothing may be more viable than paying him money we can't afford or that doesn't represent value, or accepting a tiny fee rather than keeping him playing for another 6 months or a year.
You also need to look at a player's perspective and this does have some links to Anthony Stewart. Every player has an idea of what they are worth, some clubs have the funds to match that, others don't. I think Chris isn't being silly to wait and see what options are available to him (if he hasn't already signed for someone else) and see what deal works best for him at this time. The decision is completely in his and his agents' hands. He'll know that if nothing comes through, we will happily have him here.
Whereas, if he tied himself to a deal here during the season, the power / ability to seek out a new club is taken out of his hands. He has to wait for a club to have a deal agreed and then he'll have permission to speak to them. He can't pick the club that comes in for him and it becomes a take it or leave it situation.
Free agents as they are called used to command a signing on fee and/or higher wages because the club trying to sign them don’t have to pay a transfer fee. Not sure if this is still the case due to stricter financial scrutiny.
With less long term contracts flying about it probably had calmed a bit financially. Excluding Mbappe.
Still probably a bit of playing cards close to the chest and two or three rounds of first choices going elsewhere, saying no or asking for too much money before it all settles down.
I seem to remember there was a bit of quiet then a season ticket push with one or two players a day announcing they had renewed over a week or so. No idea if that's when the deal was done, suspect many had known for a while. There were also some big decisions on outgoings (Tommo, Gape, Nick Freeman) , I'd expect this years soon.
Petes replacement/new investor announcement soon after players released, to soften the blow.
first player signatures soon after to show new guy in a good light that he’s able to get the business fans want done. Ergo: CJF & Low on new improved deals. Gmac gets one more year. Believe.
infrastructure improve details throughout May
New players announced as soon as contractual able to do so
Comments
It's just people parroting what they've heard from dreadful pundits on the TV or radio.
Good players often leave lower league clubs to go and play for better sides for more money. The end.
Yeah it’s a bit silly. It’s highly likely we had a bid or a few bids for him from QPR. If he’s getting bids, then I’m sure he can get a whole load of interest on a free transfer.
Exactly. I would prefer to call it great business to sign a young guy no one had heard of and without paying a fee, and see him develop into a player that other clubs are interested in acquiring.
Chris's injury record may count against him a little. Obviously it would be hard to turn down more money from a glamour club but it may be better for his long term prospects if the medics are confident injury issues are behind him to sign a one year deal with us, play every game to prove his fitness and, if he smashes it, bigger and better (and higher paid) opportunities may open up this time next season.
Chris is an excellent player but let's not forget, even when fit, he was often third choice in central defence for us this season. We were all surprised to see him picked at Wembley and it's only since then he's cemented his place as one of the first choice names.
If he's third choice in a mid-table League One side, it's hard to see him being a likely starter in any Championship team.
I suspect he'll move on but I think it'll be a Lewis Wing-style move. There may be a few Championship teams taking a sniff but ultimately he'll sign for a bigger League One team offering a higher salary than we can.
Completely agree. He is very limited on the ball for Championship level. Great player for us. I don’t want to see him go. But let’s not get carried away.
How do you know he was fully fit?
Just hope Forino wasn't one of the 3 (was it?) players they suggested we had that could go for big fees, justifying racking up a bit of debt for.
Assume Kone was 100% one of them, not sure who else they meant?
Low could get a decent fee, but not "that" high, anyone else?
I think possibly Declan Scura
Given that our sustainability model involves : find diamond in the rough / develop/ sell - then it would seem, with only a few months left on his contract, we either didn’t get an offer for Chris or felt we could out bid any Summer offer he may get, or most likely have a contract agreement in place if he fails to get a more attractive offer only to be announced as and when. Just letting him slide away is clearly not a viable business option.
I'm sure after the meetings this week we will have a clearer vision of what is ahead for the summer. Come Thursday I hope Matt puts his out of office on for a few days and enjoys a recharge. Maybe the Gasroom should have a closed season too
Could always start doing this again......
There's a million possibilities but it seems most likely that we have been speaking to Chris and representatives about a new deal for some time. That could well be gaining outline figures that would then probably change if he was offered more elsewhere.
He's more attractive to other clubs on a free but that doesn't mean he's had lots of of offers or would accept every offer that comes along.
I believe he was going to QPR but they wouldn't pay whatever we wanted last year, maybe their owners didn't value him as highly as Ainsworth did. Should he get another job elsewhere you'd imagine he'd come in for him again.
Letting him slide away for nothing may be more viable than paying him money we can't afford or that doesn't represent value, or accepting a tiny fee rather than keeping him playing for another 6 months or a year.
Ferrybridge?
My first thought too.
Excellent idea on both counts!
Nope
Are we all assuming that Chris isn’t signed on for next season, or is it fact?
Who knew
https://www.sciencephoto.com/search?q=power+station+cooling+towers
You also need to look at a player's perspective and this does have some links to Anthony Stewart. Every player has an idea of what they are worth, some clubs have the funds to match that, others don't. I think Chris isn't being silly to wait and see what options are available to him (if he hasn't already signed for someone else) and see what deal works best for him at this time. The decision is completely in his and his agents' hands. He'll know that if nothing comes through, we will happily have him here.
Whereas, if he tied himself to a deal here during the season, the power / ability to seek out a new club is taken out of his hands. He has to wait for a club to have a deal agreed and then he'll have permission to speak to them. He can't pick the club that comes in for him and it becomes a take it or leave it situation.
Free agents as they are called used to command a signing on fee and/or higher wages because the club trying to sign them don’t have to pay a transfer fee. Not sure if this is still the case due to stricter financial scrutiny.
No towers at Ferrybridge anymore. They've gradually come down over the past couple of years...
Eggborough?
(And kudos for filling in whist @Shev has temporarily abandoned us...)
Nope. I chose it because they are closing it down soon.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire
With less long term contracts flying about it probably had calmed a bit financially. Excluding Mbappe.
Still probably a bit of playing cards close to the chest and two or three rounds of first choices going elsewhere, saying no or asking for too much money before it all settles down.
I seem to remember there was a bit of quiet then a season ticket push with one or two players a day announcing they had renewed over a week or so. No idea if that's when the deal was done, suspect many had known for a while. There were also some big decisions on outgoings (Tommo, Gape, Nick Freeman) , I'd expect this years soon.
Correct
Today's news makes me think we won't see quite the changing of the guard we thought we would.
If I were planning it out it would be: