Things certainly seem to be shaping up nicely and with two or three more additions we should be well prepared for the coming season.
I don’t want to dwell on the negative side, there are enough on here who take care of that, but I cannot help being concerned at the situation we may find ourselves in at the end of next season with, apparently, most of our squad out of contract. It’s certainly a problem that I am sure the club will be looking to address, but as others have said you cannot force players to sign contracts.
I hope it does not result in a situation similar to Bournemouths. Cherries fans are expecting to lose many of their first team players, albeit a combination of those out of contract and those subject to bids from other clubs. Whilst many are quick to pounce on any perceived lack of professionalism on the part of our club, consider Bournemouths handling of the proposed sale of Jason Pierce to the Posh. Cherries fans were not best pleased to hear that the club were prepared to accept what they considered was a derisory offer of 500K, for a player they considered to be worth significantly more. If they thought that was bad, consider how they felt when it was reported that the Bournemouth Chairman advised the Posh in a telephone conversation that they would probably accept their offer, and in the words of the Bournemouth Echo, having put the phone down, checked Pierces file, to only then, find there was a 50% sell on clause which entitled Pompey to half the fee ! Not surprisingly, he back-peddled fast and the deal is now in the balance. If it happened to us, it would be the Exeweb meltdown to end all meltdowns !
I don’t want to dwell on the negative side, there are enough on here who take care of that, but I cannot help being concerned at the situation we may find ourselves in at the end of next season with, apparently, most of our squad out of contract. It’s certainly a problem that I am sure the club will be looking to address, but as others have said you cannot force players to sign contracts.
I hope it does not result in a situation similar to Bournemouths. Cherries fans are expecting to lose many of their first team players, albeit a combination of those out of contract and those subject to bids from other clubs. Whilst many are quick to pounce on any perceived lack of professionalism on the part of our club, consider Bournemouths handling of the proposed sale of Jason Pierce to the Posh. Cherries fans were not best pleased to hear that the club were prepared to accept what they considered was a derisory offer of 500K, for a player they considered to be worth significantly more. If they thought that was bad, consider how they felt when it was reported that the Bournemouth Chairman advised the Posh in a telephone conversation that they would probably accept their offer, and in the words of the Bournemouth Echo, having put the phone down, checked Pierces file, to only then, find there was a 50% sell on clause which entitled Pompey to half the fee ! Not surprisingly, he back-peddled fast and the deal is now in the balance. If it happened to us, it would be the Exeweb meltdown to end all meltdowns !
