George Dobson - Gone to Wrexham p136, farewell message p142

What did Dobson see when he signed that pre-contract given that he would be losing the "security" of playing for our Club? One that has been for the duration of his three year contract, in the third tier of English football and a division he has been in for the whole of his eight year career with the delights of Stockport, Mansfield, Rotherham, Blackpool, Northampton, Wigan etc etc once again awaiting him? All for the potential of European football with its wide coverage, for the River Danube, for Lake Balaton, for magnificent architecture, for fascinating culture, for superb food, for its tokaji wine, for its hot springs, for its ancient spas? And that's all without being lauded by the Hungarians as as the Englishman that was happy to come over and embrace all the country has to offer? As opposed to staying with us, for a proportion of the fanbase that don't seem to rate good enough to wear the Charlton shirt anyway and for a Board that originally deemed not worth keeping? Or to go to yet another League 1 club because there is absolutely no guarantee that a Championship club would have come in for him.

But, when all is said and done, maybe, Dobson felt wanted and needed and was offered a contract to match that too? As opposed to us, who, on second thoughts, decided he wasn't quite so dispensable and who only then opted to up our offer for him to stay.   

Henry Irving said:

DubaiCAFC said:

And for the record, Dobson 2nd offer was basically what he wanted, but chose not to sign it. 

So says Andy Scott.

What does Dobson say about it?

I dunno. Plenty of journo's around but none seem to have the balls to ask him. 

Funny business this journalism lark. Spend all your time asking questions but usually the wrong ones to the wrong people. 

DubaiCAFC said:

vff said:

DubaiCAFC said:

Also, if he really wanted to stay, he had two contact offers, and he could have come out in press and put his side of the story out, but he hasn’t, which suggests to me, he also hasn’t played ball in this as well.. this isn’t to say he hasn’t been our most committed player still.. 

It is sad he is going on, and hopefully we can bring in a more forward thinking midfielder to play alongside Coventry. Sad to see him go, but not as said as losing someone like Aribo a couple of years back.

We move on, and hope we are sitting here this time next year celebrating promotion 

You are seriously proposing that having that George Dobson, should have personally played out contract negotiations via the SLP ? That is never a good look for any professional footballer and is a red flag for future employers. 

I know muddying the water is your thing but that is not sensible / realistic at all. Especially for a good character such as George Dobson. 

It is apparent that 'technical director', Andy Scott didn't rate him and the money to keep him was not made available by the SMT. Not as yet anyway. Nathan Jones wants to keep him, and for any potential promotion push, Charlton supporters have to hope that Nathan Jones choices are at the top of the list and money is available to back him.

Why wouldn’t he, if he really wanted to stay, and has a manager that trusts him and believes in him, I’ve could easily come out and said I wanted to stay, but it was difficult for me to do so.. also not once has Jones actually said Dobson wants to stay. More he wants to keep him.. and the comment of they need to find common ground suggests a lot of work, from Charlton, the other club and Dobson.
For me Dobson is a good player, but if we want to get out of this division, we need better.

RedRyan said:

Jones interview about Dobbo on CharltonTV “Wish I’d come in earlier”, clearly putting the blame on Scott devaluing Dobbo.

Sounds like Jones doesn’t expect to still have him next season tbh so any talk about keeping him would be wide of the mark.

 Dobson or Scott??

golfaddick said:

Henry Irving said:

DubaiCAFC said:

And for the record, Dobson 2nd offer was basically what he wanted, but chose not to sign it. 

So says Andy Scott.

What does Dobson say about it?

I dunno. Plenty of journo's around but none seem to have the balls to ask him. 

Funny business this journalism lark. Spend all your time asking questions but usually the wrong ones to the wrong people. 

Agree. Find it strange that neither Cawley or Terry Smith have asked him directly if he wants to stay.

Can only assume they have been told by the club to stay off the subject.

Are Pre-Contracts binding in football?

The enforceability of a pre-contract will depend on the specific terms of the agreement. Pre-contracts are generally not binding under English law as they are usually marked ‘Subject to Contract’ and are simply a commitment by the parties to enter into a later contract. The difference between a pre-contract and a contract is that the parties to the pre-contract have not agreed the essential terms and so the pre-contract does not reflect the final agreement. However, if a pre-contract contains all the essential terms that have been agreed, then the pre-contract is effectively a final contract and is likely to be binding.

FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (‘DRC’) has had to determine on a number of occasions whether a pre-contract has binding effect when a dispute between a club and a player has arisen. The DRC has generally held that a pre-contract is binding if it contains essential terms such as the duration of the contract, remuneration and additional benefits. Another factor taken into account by the DRC is whether the pre-contract has come into effect. If the pre-contract has been terminated prior to when it is due to take effect, then the DRC has been reluctant to find that the pre-contract is binding, whilst if the parties have already begun to perform their obligations under the pre-contract prior to any termination, then this is usually evidence to prove that the parties intended to be bound by the terms of the pre-contract.

In an attempt to release themselves from the obligations under a pre-contract, parties have attempted to allege that the validity of a pre-contract was conditional upon a player successfully completing a medical or obtaining a work permit. However, the DRC has rejected all such arguments on the basis that Article 18(4) of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players 2012 prevents the validity of a contract between a player and a club being “subject to a successful medical examination and/or the grant of a work permit”.

All depends on what is in the pre-contract is my takeaway.

Any such statement I’m sure they’d wait till the season ends …..well that was 3 games a go or December or pre season depending on your point of view 

I think there was a clear indication from Jones' post match interview that Dobbo wouldn't be going if he had got in the job earlier.

SidewaysInOz said:

All depends on what is in the pre-contract is my takeaway.

That precontract match all of the uefa/fifa or mlsz regulations, all of the contents are a same as the final contract, so it is binding.  

https://www.nemzetisport.hu/labdarugo-nb-i/2024/04/anglia-mindent-megteszek-hogy-ne-menjen-fehervarra

DubaiCAFC said:

And for the record, Dobson 2nd offer was basically what he wanted, but chose not to sign it. 

Trust me, whoever told you this is lying.

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

golfaddick said:

Henry Irving said:

DubaiCAFC said:

And for the record, Dobson 2nd offer was basically what he wanted, but chose not to sign it. 

So says Andy Scott.

What does Dobson say about it?

I dunno. Plenty of journo's around but none seem to have the balls to ask him. 

Funny business this journalism lark. Spend all your time asking questions but usually the wrong ones to the wrong people. 

Agree. Find it strange that neither Cawley or Terry Smith have asked him directly if he wants to stay.

Can only assume they have been told by the club to stay off the subject.

As if that would stop them. 🙄

SELR_addicks said:

sam3110 said:

Henry Irving said:

DubaiCAFC said:

And for the record, Dobson 2nd offer was basically what he wanted, but chose not to sign it. 

So says Andy Scott.

What does Dobson say about it?

But the narrative that the offer was only as good as Tennai Watson's just comes from some rando on here... 

The issue is our fanbase, and in particular many posters on here, need a pantomime villain to point and scream at. Scott is now that person and nothing people will say or do will sway that for them now. Similar to when we had Steve Gallen, every good signing was his and every bad one was Driesen's, when in reality it was a bit of both, because that's what happens at clubs across the world, some signings work and some don't. And when Driesen was no longer here and it all fell to Gallen the narrative shifted to "but he has no money to work with" when the reality is we never really had money to work with.

No doubt if we build a squad next season that challenges for promotion, it will all be down to Jones, and any bad eggs will be dumped upon Scott's head, and if it looks anything like this season Scott will be blamed for it all. 

Look at Arsenal for instance, close to winning the league and with standout players like Rice, Odegaard and Martinelli, but they've signed some dross along the way too like Pepe (who cost close to £70m more than Martinelli) but it wasn't that long ago that they weren't even playing European football

Scott is in charge of the recruitment of our side (and was part of the 'choosing a manager' committee). 

We have ended up in our worst league position for nearly a century. 

We are now losing our best player and club captain on a free. 

There's no pantomime villain here, just a man that has not performed his role at an acceptable level. 

But he not in charge of the contract or Dobson right hand signing it …. the club made him an offer 2 years with another year , he wanted straight 3 his dad was more then happy to tell everyone that it was nothing to do with money .. ….. would question he our best player and always thought we needed a better captain .. 

Buying a player back from a club he hasn't even played for yet!
That's a new one for us..
Bravo Andrew Scott.