As we all know we have 14 players out of contract this summer - and I dare say a few vultures are sniffing around some of our better players.
I wonder if any of the players will actually come out and say "You know what - I'm not taking this lying down, I want to right this wrong and stay here and get this team promoted next season"
Obviously we don't have the money and the players know this, but you'd hope some will come out and say they will take a wage cut with an eye on getting us promoted next season.
People like Dailly - at the twilight of his career and not in need of money would be one I'd love to stay. His comments at the POTY dinner were really pleasing to hear and you'd hope that he might have some sway on some of the others. Now is the time to see if the "Team Spirit" is really worth anything.
Basey deserves a new deal and will become an integral player next season
Randolph deserves a new deal but may have alerted some teams to his availability with his last couple of months.
I think Burton would take a reduced contract - he's only got a couple of years left in him
As far as I am concerned I am resigned to Bailey, Racon and Sam departing - I'd be surprised if Lloydy stayed but he also strikes me as someone in a comfort zone here so maybe he'll take a wage cut to avoid an upheaval.
Semedo - as I have stated many many times - is the one player I would love us to keep and build our squad around. He is already better than this division but I hope he shows unbelievable loyalty and stays on.
As for the club - we need to act swiftly and get some of these contracts sorted out before the vultures swoop. Now is a great time to start talking to the lads as they are hurting and may think with their hearts rather than their pockets.
Finally - my message to Parky is fair play to you mate. You have had an uphill struggle all season. You had a summer of not knowing if you had a job yet you said nothing and just got on with your job. You had a flying start yet kept your feet on the ground. You had a rocky patch over the winter yet you remained optimistic. You have brought in some really good players with very little resources. Your resolve will be tested even more next season and I want you at the helm of my club.
I am over the events of last night - as I see it it's just another chapter in the soap opera that is Charlton Athletic. I still love this club with a passion, we all do, and that's why the genuine fans will still be there next season and any plastics we shed along the way....well that's their prerogative.
See you all again in August!
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With football wage deflation at this level there will be a good few players looking for Clubs and having to take less than they were on.
With our much reduced budget that will be one thing in our favour but I won't blame any player who opts to take a better offer elsewhere. Why shouldn't they?
Because they love being booed so much?
I see your point but Dickson and Sinclair have ridden this gravy train for long enough. We will cut some loose - rightly so, but we should be talking to others about extending/renewing.
Of course players are entitled to seek a better wage - but I'd like to think that those who have struck an affinity with the club and the fans would maybe consider that before their back pocket.
but i would certainly hope that some of the out of contract players will take pay cuts, but i expect at least half of them to go.
I hope Parky stays and I think he probably will. However if the board are looking to get someone else in then i hope they do it quickly. because the squad is going to have a lot of holes and will need rebuilding and with us reduced to only getting free transfers then we are going to have to act quicky so we don't miss out.
Happens at all clubs. Admittedly far too often at CAFC but we are not the only ones.
The atmosphere for the last half a dozen games at the Valley has been excellent - if that were evident next season it would certainly be a boost
Players we like/rate have "struck an affinity" with the Club but those we don't like or rate have "ridden the gravy train".
We want them to show loyalty or consider the Club or fans before their back pocket but we are quite happy to just "cut some loose".
It seems we've already done a deal with Akpo and now we know what division we are in the Club can start to make offers but if I was a player I'd be asking my agent to see what else was on the table before re-signing at a lower fee for Charlton.
Personally I like to see Omosuzi come back as he was decent and will most likely be affordable. I'd keep Daily, Llera and Sodje plus Youga if fit. With Fry that is a decent bit of cover. Borrowdale is most likely too expensive.
Doubt we can afford Reid or Jackson but I'd have both if possible.
Bailey I can't see staying. Not exactly been Mr Stickability at his other clubs so just hope we get more than the £400k we paid.
Racon is still under contract so we might get a small fee. Semedo ditto but I'd love to keep him.
Spring? Could do worse.
Basey? If we keep Youga and Fry where does he play?
Sam is out of contract and I think he'll go. Is Waggy good enough? I think we'll find out next season.
Up front we have Akpo and McLeod (if ever fit). Burton, Forster and Mooney all out of contract or going back on loan. Maybe on reduced wages but where is the pace (other than Izele).
Loans from Liverpool or elsewhere? Great but who are they?
Lots of kids like Tuna, Mambo, Jenkinson, Clark but who knows if they are ready.
So who do we "cut loose" and who do we want to show some "sentiment"? Cos we can't keep them all due to budget.
Would you ? I've been with my company 23 years and quite like it here but if I were offered more elsewhere I'd be off. Players have no loyalty to the Club anymore, the only people that do are us, the fans.
Omo can play CH also. Is Solly out of contract? Can we afford both and what if Richardson leaves?
Fry not with us next season but was hoping he would be.
Iff I had 20,000 people who had created a song and sing it to me every other week I'd consider sticking at my job! Thats what I mean about creating an affinity with the club.
Dailly in his POTY speech said how much he loved the club, the players, the fans. The squad is really close knit and theres a lot of togetherness - hopefully that will have some weight!
Sinclair, Dickson, Spring (though never had a chance to play), Fleetwood are either not upto it or just not likely to be interested in staying. Cut them loose.
Sam Sodje might be too expensive - but with his brother joining it might be easier to persuade him.
I'd like to think the board have an idea who they want to keep - and without having the list of 14 out of contract players I can't say immediately who I would and wouldn't want. Also - without knowing their wages I'd have no idea who to offer what to and so on. All I'm saying is maybe it would be novel for a player to suddenly put a club they actually like before their own interests. Some of these guys are very well-off so an extra 30 or 40 grand over a year isn't really going to make a massive impact to their pension plans
Maybe i'm unrealistic but I'd much rather play somewhere where I am liked and I enjoy it than go somewhere else that is an unknown quantity.
yes, these guys, some of them at least, are well off but Solly isn't. What if he's offered a longer contract elsewhere? Should he stay or go?
He is a good player but two years older. In the present climate I can't see many clubs offering more than us even in reduced circumstances.
If the money is right - i'd probably keep spring. Especially if Bailey is off (which is highly likely IMO)
Dicko is just not up to it. He's had enough chances
Solly is definitely worth keeping and, if the money is right, I can't see him going anywhere.
The players I am more referring to are Dailly, Burton, Semedo, Richardson - players who have had a pretty big impact this season. We will need players with experience and these guys seem to like playing here. I'm hoping they feel they belong here and choose to stay rather than just chase the dollar
I heard treble actually - Cheltenham offered 6k p/w and we trebled that. But that could just be a silly rumour that went around
£18k? i doubt that. more like Cheltenham offered 2k p/w and we trebled that
Shame he still has another year to run (I think).[/quote]
I know but hopefully someone abroad or in England will take a gamble on him
Dailly is a different example though. At his age he probably will want to stay and won't be too fussed on moving to another club. But that doesn't apply to the likes of Sam, Bailey and Racon. They're younger and won't stick around when offered more money or a chance to play in a higher league next season.