BigCrompy
Well-known member
- Joined
- 6 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 1,980
The only sensible policy is to never let your better players enter the final year of their contract. Even Man City reportedly have this policy, never mind a cash strapped club like ours. If they won’t agree a new contract they are actively managed out of the club, with only one or two exceptions.
Yes; that's probably prudent - but alas, we're not Manchester City, and we don't have oodles of replacements in our paper-thin squad to replaced those who are 'training with the youth team'. 'Actively manage out' in this case means 'stick on the bench' until the inevitable free transfer in the summer, or accept a pittance immediately for an enforced transfer to Div 2 - really of no benefit to anyone.
I reiterate we CAN'T force players to sign contracts they don't want to, and our squad size doesn't permit players on gardening leave.
Unfortunately too many players (Dunkley, Rothwell, Ledson, Lundstram, Nelson etc, etc) have been allowed to go for reduced or no fees in recent seasons, which has set the tone for others to watch and follow their lead.
I doubt there's any following of leads per se, or that it's unique to Oxford United FC - unfortunately it's agents and the modern game, and the only option for us is to 'embrace' it; and bully smaller clubs in the same way.
£500k would help towards, what everyone says, is extortionate ground rent fees for example. The reality is we have to start generating significant income from transfer fees for our better players when the time comes for them to leave. As I’ve said we have the disadvantage of high ground rent, no income from the stadium, lower attendances, so where is the money going to come from to fund the better players everyone wants?
Agree with you to a large extent, but this would be a slightly different conversation if the subject were e.g. Gavin Whyte - much as we have all loved seeing Curtis Nelson represent our club, he is nonetheless just a centre-back, and he only cost £250k...if the £4m-rated Whyte walked for free that would be criminal beyond belief.
I disagree that we only stayed up solely because of Nelson. The return of Eastwood, allied to bringing Long in as RB, made the defence much stronger and suddenly Nelson and Dickie found their mojo.
Unfortunately it’s hard to see how we are going to avoid exactly the same scenario with Dickie in 12 months time now unless he surprisingly signs an improved extension to his contract. These are players that should be generating seven figure transfer fees and there is no way our little club can afford to lose that revenue.
Again you are right (although I didn't say 'only' reason), I definitely think he was a 'major' reason we stayed up. Let's not lose sight of the benefit of a settled back-four in the second half of the season, AND the move of Mousinho into the DM role. And the financial cost of relegation cannot be over-stated, probably far more than £500k; and I certainly never want to plummet to the pitiful standard enjoyed by Pighill ever again.
Whilst your stance is laudable, I just can't see that it's practical for a club of our size. What happens if KR stands Curtis down from playing duty in January due to his refusal to sign a new contract, and other players take his side, and strike? Since you make mention of others following leads, we can't be seen to be a club that obstructs career development (and it's probably not too good under employment law either).
So - a practical suggestion as to how Oxford United manages Rob Dickie now, bearing in mind he's presently our ONLY legitimate centre-back option who's old enough to drink beer?