YTFC Forum

Mad Mal · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 196

Something that has been on my mind since yesterday is what kind of signal does the 50K transfer of Lee send out to other clubs about us?

Hearts are now bankrolled by a multi-millionaire. IMO we should have been working very, very hard to squeeze him for as much as we could. After all, 50K to him is like a few pence to us in our pockets.

How much would we have to pay for a replacement of equal ability? Certainly not a paltry 50K. I would have been happy with a 100K fee and believe we would have got it. After all, if they wanted him as much as they said they did, the multi money man would just dig up a few more pence from his pocket.

Other clubs will look at this and take us for an easy touch in the transfer market. I know I would if I were a chairman selling or buying involving YTFC. The Lee transfer would say to me that we are prepared to offload our best players for peanuts.

The squad, in recent days, has been reduced in quality and we only have what, 60K ish back. I say 60K because, I can't see us getting a lot more than 10K (if that) for Sodge if Lee is the benchmark for what we are prepared to accept for our players now.

Even with the fact that Lee could go for nothing, I believe that we have sent a signal to others that YTFC can be suckered easily. How can we now argue with any other future clubs about transfers? They will just look at it and say "take it or leave it". We will lie down, take it and let them drive the boot in then, be happy to be mugged again.

Webby is supposed to be a hard nosed busines man. He is the one now in charge of this area of the club. On this deal alone, I think he is not up to it & I seriously question his ability in this area.

Sorry for the long post.

Mr G · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 166

Excellent post and I fully concur.

bowerboy · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 619

Very good post :-)

I just wish the club put the same value on our players that the supporters do!

anywayz · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 4

Without knowing details about the contract we can not comment - although I do admit that the amount does seem low for some one of LJ's ability - BUT he is not proven at that level (equivalent of Mid Table English Prem). This could be and I hope it is a successful step up for Lee.

There could be all sorts of sell on clauses - appearance bonuses etc.

Also it sends out a good impression of the club to other young up and coming players. especiallay after LJ's / ST's favourable comments about each other.

Ebony · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Chester

Firstly how do we know that Lee did not have a sell on cluse, as per Tonkin. In which case, DW would have had no choice, once Lee had decided he wanted to go.

Secondly, it shows we will not put barriers in the way of good players who get an opportunity to go to bigger clubs. This could attract other young potential stars, ie Cohen.

Finally, perhaps this could put an end to the idea that DW is trying to sell our players for his own gain.

Anyway £50K is a lot for someone who was only in the team cause his dad was the manager.

Mr G · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 166

anywayz wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")
Without knowing details about the contract we can not comment - although I do admit that the amount does seem low for some one of LJ's ability - BUT he is not proven at that level (equivalent of Mid Table English Prem). This could be and I hope it is a successful step up for Lee.

There could be all sorts of sell on clauses - appearance bonuses etc.

Also it sends out a good impression of the club to other young up and coming players. especiallay after LJ's / ST's favourable comments about each other.

"not proven at that level"
Gavin, Stead and many other weren't, if players had to be proven at a higher level before going up for first time then none ever would?

anywayz · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 4

West Ham took a risk on Gav being ready for the step paid a good fee to release him from his contract, and in hind sight got it wrong (his move to Ipswich who this season are not good enough to make the play-offs). They still made 50K on his move and apparently so did we by the sell on clause.
Hearts seem to see LJ as cover and "one For the Furture" and with little time left on his contract and as such Yeovil will have made a big mistake IF there are NO Appearnce Bonuses and Sell On clauses. BUT without knowing details of the contracts who knows :wink:

YEOVIL OASIS · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 44

we must accept this sort of thing is caused by the boseman ruling
when players can walk for free at the end of the season clubs can come in with lower offers
we must not forget that lee wanted to go so we can not stop him from moving if players want to go (or there agents want them to go) then they will leave

macphisto · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 440

But why (if he really wanted to leave) could he not have signed a new contract, which would then have forced any buying clubs to pay a more realistic price. His name could still have been circulated to other clubs so it wouldn't have prevented him from moving on.

AMAZED · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 67

I wonder if Johnno had a clause in his contract that said we had to sell him if a big club made a bid of XXX. When he signed 2ish years ago, maybe £50k seemed about right.

yeovil4eva · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 14

very good post, in answer to your question, it tells other clubs that we will let any player that we receive an offer for walk out the door, however important they are, and more or less watever the price, which, from our point of view, is a problem

Seaton Glover · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 1

I'm not sure it is reasonable to blame anyone except GJ for the fact that so many players are out of contract at the end of the season.
He was in charge until recently and it was down to him to negotiate new contracts. Maybe he had a reason for not doing it?