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Quoted from 75

The article says whoever it is can play in numerous positions. As far as I am aware, Danny is an out and out left back, you could be pedantic and say he is a wing back. Anyway, this is what happens when you allow your best players contracts to expire. He should have been offered a new and improved deal at Christmas. He owes us nothing and he will get the best deal for himself.

After Magnay and Amond, I'm getting bored of typing the same thing.

I always find the phrase "when you let your best players contract expire" a bit odd. Its indicative of the way the GTFC fans seem to have a default position that everything is the club/fenty/manager's fault. There is of course the very distinct possibility that the player did not want to sign a contract and therefore short of forging his signature onto a contract the club cant really do anything...

Its the same with the pearson situation, some people on here accusing the club of "Lying" in saying they were in negotiations with the player just because no contract was offered. That thinking just shows a total misunderstanding of what contracts and negotiations are...

Quoted from 935

I always find the phrase "when you let your best players contract expire" a bit odd. Its indicative of the way the GTFC fans seem to have a default position that everything is the club/fenty/manager's fault. There is of course the very distinct possibility that the player did not want to sign a contract and therefore short of forging his signature onto a contract the club cant really do anything...

Its the same with the pearson situation, some people on here accusing the club of "Lying" in saying they were in negotiations with the player just because no contract was offered. That thinking just shows a total misunderstanding of what contracts and negotiations are...

I agree totally with your points regarding " letting contracts expire" however after speaking with Shaun Pearson I am completely satisfied that the club were NOT in negotiations at any stage, they may have done so in July but there were no talks or negotiations prior to him signing for Wrexham

Quoted from 935

I always find the phrase "when you let your best players contract expire" a bit odd. Its indicative of the way the GTFC fans seem to have a default position that everything is the club/fenty/manager's fault.

It happens too often to be surely down to practically every player of the year leaving on a Bosman free transfer. Players, particularly at this level are not millionaires, they want the security of a contract like every working person.

I do believe our contract renewal policy needs looking at. It doesn't have to be a wholesale thing where several squad members are offered new deals, but for those that bond with the team, and excel in their position it does not make sense to me to allow the contract to run down. If Andrew goes, am I correct in saying we will still need to sign a new left back? A left back that despite scouting, may not fit in with the squad, may not be good enough or may not settle in the area.

I do not believe Carl Magnay would have left if we had offered him a contract at the the turn of the year. I remember he was on Twitter saying he would sign whenever the extension was offered - it wasn't and he went on to be play of the year then left for a smaller club.

Padraig Amond, from the grapevine I understand was looking for a new club practically as soon as he signed so I can understand him not renewing (went well there son!). It's happened time and time again, other clubs manage to renew contracts mid season. Why do we let our assets leave for nothing?

You could tell from his responses every time he was asked about staying at town that he had his sights set on signing for a club higher up the league if possible. No issue with that myself - good luck to him. Just a shame we're looking at another massive overhaul this summer.

What's happened to the '1 year with an option of a second' contract that seemed to be all the rage a few years back?

Seemed a sensible way to conduct business to me.

We sign someone for a season, and if they do well we trigger a clause that keeps them here for a second.

If they do well, and they're over 24, and another club comes in for them, we get a bit of money for them (depending on valuations).

If they don't do well, they leave. No pay-off. No hassle.

Quoted from RichMariner

What's happened to the '1 year with an option of a second' contract that seemed to be all the rage a few years back?

Seemed a sensible way to conduct business to me.

We sign someone for a season, and if they do well we trigger a clause that keeps them here for a second.

If they do well, and they're over 24, and another club comes in for them, we get a bit of money for them (depending on valuations).

If they don't do well, they leave. No pay-off. No hassle.

Course, that's up to the player and the players agent. And our chief executive Ian Fleming I would imagine - who only carries out the instructions of the board.

Quoted from RichMariner

What's happened to the '1 year with an option of a second' contract that seemed to be all the rage a few years back?

Seemed a sensible way to conduct business to me.

We sign someone for a season, and if they do well we trigger a clause that keeps them here for a second.

If they do well, and they're over 24, and another club comes in for them, we get a bit of money for them (depending on valuations).

If they don't do well, they leave. No pay-off. No hassle.

These are out of fashion as they dont benefit the player's agent because there is no new signing on fee.

Quoted from 75

It happens too often to be surely down to practically every player of the year leaving on a Bosman free transfer. Players, particularly at this level are not millionaires, they want the security of a contract like every working person.

I do believe our contract renewal policy needs looking at. It doesn't have to be a wholesale thing where several squad members are offered new deals, but for those that bond with the team, and excel in their position it does not make sense to me to allow the contract to run down. If Andrew goes, am I correct in saying we will still need to sign a new left back? A left back that despite scouting, may not fit in with the squad, may not be good enough or may not settle in the area.

I do not believe Carl Magnay would have left if we had offered him a contract at the the turn of the year. I remember he was on Twitter saying he would sign whenever the extension was offered - it wasn't and he went on to be play of the year then left for a smaller club.

Padraig Amond, from the grapevine I understand was looking for a new club practically as soon as he signed so I can understand him not renewing (went well there son!). It's happened time and time again, other clubs manage to renew contracts mid season. Why do we let our assets leave for nothing?

Carl Magnay said a lot of things. The point here is that if a player and his agent want a contract to run down then there is nothing the club can do about it.

He's good, but he's only a good left back. Won't lose any sleep over him leaving.

Agreed, my opinions on Andrew are well documented, fantastic going forward but does get caught out of position too often and plays awful balls once a game. He's improved defensively as the season's gone on though.

Quoted from Mariner_09

Agreed, my opinions on Andrew are well documented, fantastic going forward but does get caught out of position too often and plays awful balls once a game. He's improved defensively as the season's gone on though.

Probably because he had spent 2 injury hit years previously and needed a season to get back up to speed. I don't know what you have against him as he is as good as it gets at league 2 level and we only got him because of his long injury lay off.

I have always thought he would be gone after putting himself in the shop window here to prove his fitness. Slade has said that if he signs for a league 2 club, it will be us, but i don't think he will sign for a league 2 club, so if isn't Donny, it will be someone else. He's clearly good enough for league 1 and i wouldn't blame him one bit for moving up and probably doubling his wages.

So we give someone with injury problems a two year contract and the fishy ridicule it yet when we give two year ones the fishy still goes bananas . .?????

Should have said one year as in Andrew's case.

Quoted from 75

. Why do we let our assets leave for nothing?

Omar Bogle ;)

Quoted from Mariner_09

Agreed, my opinions on Andrew are well documented, fantastic going forward but does get caught out of position too often and plays awful balls once a game. He's improved defensively as the season's gone on though.

I suppose all those that voted him as PoTY are wrong then. He played nearly all season without a recognised left sided midfielder in front of him yet still provided many assists and great crosses.

Does this club deserve to be successful. It appears to me that this club makes 1 offer to a player and 1 offer only. If the player doesn't accept it straight away that's it-no lee-way in discussions. In recent times how could Hartlepools,Lincoln and Wrexham offer better deals than us. Too many pig heads who are afraid to let their self supposed halos slip ,methinks.

Wrexham didn't make a better offer than us because we didn't make one. ;)

Wrexham have had to cut their budget again so there's every chance that SP had to take a pay cut.

The original post is about Andrews, but seems to have drifted in other directions.

Re SP, put yourself in his position. GTFC say to him, you can have a 1-year deal and may have limited opportunities, as we want to develop a squad for League 1.

OR Wrexham say you will be first choice in our promotion squad with a 2-year contract. Come to Wales and you will love it.

What would you do?

It's Andrew, not Andrews, and again .....Grimsby did not offer Pearson a deal. He didn't have a choice to make in that respect.

re Pearson, it's all about interpretation. Did the club not offer him a deal? or did they not offer him a deal that worked for him? My guess would be the second.

re Andrew, he club offered a second choice, injury prone League One left back a one year deal. Why? Because it presented a great risk to them and you can't blame them for that but thats the risk the club are willing to take.
At the end of the day DA used GTFC to put himself in the shop window, just like we are looking at players (like Mitch Rose) who are doing the same.. It's all relative really.

Nobody owes us nothing.. and we owe him exactly the same. Good luck to him and we move on.

Last year we allowed Arnold and Amond go because we didn't offer them the right deal and as a consequence JF and PH got slated on this site. This year we allow Pearson to go, with the possibility of Andrew going as well and all down to what is offered and it's all ok because the manager knows what he is doing !

If he has gone then... fck him, thank you for a steady season...i am not going to cry over a player who we showed a bit of faith in after a period of long injury and he wants to be off as soon as he can.

Some perspective.....he won POTY in several categories....why ? Because he played like Roberto Carlos ? Because he was outstanding every week ? Or...maybe he was consistent over the season....something he could be as he had no competition for a place, he couldnt be dropped because we didnt have an alternative, first half of the season i thought he was average at best, poor at times, i for one was definately not his biggest fan and i think if we had another option then he may have been dropped at some point.
Granted ..second half and latter stages he was starting to standout as being a consistently good performer, would have been nice to have retained him but i think the initial 1 yr deal was understandable...thems the breaks.

Thanks Danny, good luck for the future now lets move on.

Quoted from moosey_club

If he has gone then... fck him, thank you for a steady season...i am not going to cry over a player who we showed a bit of faith in after a period of long injury and he wants to be off as soon as he can.

Some perspective.....he won POTY in several categories....why ? Because he played like Roberto Carlos ? Because he was outstanding every week ? Or...maybe he was consistent over the season....something he could be as he had no competition for a place, he couldnt be dropped because we didnt have an alternative, first half of the season i thought he was average at best, poor at times, i for one was definately not his biggest fan and i think if we had another option then he may have been dropped at some point.
Granted ..second half and latter stages he was starting to standout as being a consistently good performer, would have been nice to have retained him but i think the initial 1 yr deal was understandable...thems the breaks.

Pint of bitter please.

I personally feel that he was good at the start, better in mid season and excellent by the end, in keeping with him getting back to form and fitness after a long lay off. I think it will be difficult to do better than him at our level but you never know.

Quoted from rancido

Last year we allowed Arnold and Amond go because we didn't offer them the right deal and as a consequence JF and PH got slated on this site. This year we allow Pearson to go, with the possibility of Andrew going as well and all down to what is offered and it's all ok because the manager knows what he is doing !

Completely different manager. What's your point?
Slade has assessed him and doesn't think he rates him highly enough for a promotion challenging team as a regular. Fair enough. Agree or disagree, it matters not. Slade is the expert. So, he doesn't offer him a deal. He offered Danny Andrew a deal. What do you want him to do FFS?!

I love what Shaun Pearson did for us and what he represents and I'm sorry to see him go, but it's Slade's call, and he'll be judged in time.

You really don't want to give him a chance do you. Taking a swipe every chance you get. I can't see what the problem is myself. He's only been here 2 minutes. Judging him now, particularly because his professional opinion on a player opposes your amateur view, just seems daft at best, and prejudiced at worst.

Quoted from chaos33

Pint of bitter please.

Not at all....my posting history is there to see, i didnt particularly rate him, he improved admittedly and by the end of the season was decent but .......not gutted he has gone....he has shown he has no loyalty to us, no desire to play for us or repay us for showing a bit of faith in him so ...fck him.

Forgive the bloke, he was probably on peanuts here as he was injury prone and probably desperate for a league club, Donny are a league 1 club now and have offered a 2 year deal on probably treble his wages. That's a decision that you just have to make.

Quoted from rancido

Last year we allowed Arnold and Amond go because we didn't offer them the right deal and as a consequence JF and PH got slated on this site. This year we allow Pearson to go, with the possibility of Andrew going as well and all down to what is offered and it's all ok because the manager knows what he is doing !

Are you blaming Slade, Fenty or Hurst? I'm confused.

Quoted from moosey_club

Not at all....my posting history is there to see, i didnt particularly rate him, he improved admittedly and by the end of the season was decent but .......not gutted he has gone....he has shown he has no loyalty to us, no desire to play for us or repay us for showing a bit of faith in him so ...fck him.

He hasn't gone yet, officially. But yeah, if he has, just can't understand why he would accept the chance to play at a higher level on twice the money. What a to$$er eh.

I think I agree with Moosey.., but I also agree with Mariner 09

Is this just how it is these days following a lower league team?, its depressing really isn't it :-/

Agree he was a decent player who I would have been happy to see stay, however, Townsend, Robertson, Mangay are all examples that good full backs are out there and I look forward to seeing our replacement next year and remain optimistic that we will not be disappointed when the new guy is unveiled.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Thanks Danny, good luck for the future now lets move on.

This. Thanks Danny, you did a good job for us, we put you in the shop window. Treble your wages (or more), new baby? No brainer.

I swear we have this every summer when we lose a full back who has played incredibly well, and then we find a new one. First it was magnet, then tait and now Andrew.

Quoted from Mariner93er

I swear we have this every summer when we lose a full back who has played incredibly well, and then we find a new one. First it was magnet, then tait and now Andrew.

We clearly attract good full backs.

No massive loss , can't remember thinking what a good player he is whenever I've been at a game . Did a job , but as far as full backs not a patch on magnay or tait who we've lost in recent years

The trick is to discover one that can be moved on for a fee, and that isn't easy nowadays as agents want cuts from all money deals.

Value for money must be brought in for all positions and it will take skill to find good enough players out of contract, until either any of our youth players are good enough to come through, or we unearth a lower league talent like Bogle.

I am not that fussed. As a full back at the start of the season I thought he was poor and then as he changed to a wing back much better. I actually thought Collins was my player of the season. A decent player who was strong but not in the same league as Townsend. I was way more sad to see Pearson go utm

Quoted from MuddyWaters

We clearly attract good full backs.

This is why I love the Fishy :) :)

FWIW I really rate Andrew. Best player I saw through most of the season bar Bogle.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

FWIW I really rate Andrew. Best player I saw through most of the season bar Bogle.

Agree. Once Bogle left, Andrew stood out as a solid 8 out of 10 most weeks with only possibly Danny Collins for company. The rest were good one week, poor the next.

Yeah no doubting Danny's ability he stood out in a otherwise uninspiring side managed to allow Bignot to play his lop sided formation.

Wonder if Collins will stay the defence is looking a bit sparse now.

Quoted from lee65

I think I agree with Moosey.., but I also agree with Mariner 09

Is this just how it is these days following a lower league team?, its depressing really isn't it :-/

I imagine Hayes fans said the same when we signed their best player soares, Gateshead fans said the same when we got jones and what Solihull fans said when they lost their two best players and their most successful ever manager. It's just the way of the world

Good player in what was overall an average team.

Good luck to him, excellent full back, and probably the best corner taker/crosser of the ball that we've had in years?

If he does go we need to find a left sided Zak Mills. Young, hungry with potential for improvement

Remember when Magnay left and everyone said we would never better him...

We'll be fine, Andrew was always here because of his injury record rather than his natural ability. I think Hurst said something along the lines of we only got him because of his track record with long-term injuries.

I'm the first to have a go at the club for not trying to tie down key assets but the club were right to only offer a one-year deal last summer, can you imagine the uproar had Andrew suffered another long-term injury in October?

With regards renewing his contract, never a chance he was going to stay here. He's gone onto a higher level on more money. Can't compete with that, it's that simple.

Quoted from chaos33

He hasn't gone yet, officially. But yeah, if he has, just can't understand why he would accept the chance to play at a higher level on twice the money. What a to$$er eh.

Clearly you have some kind of crush on him...i dont.
We move on . UTM

Quoted from chaos33

Completely different manager. What's your point?
Slade has assessed him and doesn't think he rates him highly enough for a promotion challenging team as a regular. Fair enough. Agree or disagree, it matters not. Slade is the expert. So, he doesn't offer him a deal. He offered Danny Andrew a deal. What do you want him to do FFS?!

I love what Shaun Pearson did for us and what he represents and I'm sorry to see him go, but it's Slade's call, and he'll be judged in time.

You really don't want to give him a chance do you. Taking a swipe every chance you get. I can't see what the problem is myself. He's only been here 2 minutes. Judging him now, particularly because his professional opinion on a player opposes your amateur view, just seems daft at best, and prejudiced at worst.

In the same way that fans[b] objected to the appointment of PH and MB and probably most managers in towns history, I don't think RS was the right choice. That is my opinion and surely should be respected as such. We have a General Election coming up and in the same token there will be those who object to whoever becomes Prime Minister. Will their opinions be daft , amateurish or prejudiced? You say I have an amateur view on a certain player but seeing as you know nothing about me and whether or not I have ever been involved in football at any level, then that is just an assumption. In fact my only involvement in football was at a very low local level but that is immaterial as surely I'm allowed an opinion? It's almost like saying if you have never been involved in professional football then you aren't allowed to express an opinion on it. It is a known fact that virtually all professional critics in music , theatre and the arts have never been involved in those fields but it doesn't mean their opinions mean nothing.
I didn't like the way RS left us and it seemed like he was engineering a move away from us while still trying to get us promoted - which was he more bothered about? I don't think he will get us promoted but if he does then I will publicly state on this site that I was wrong. I just feel that his initial approach to who he retains , rejects or recruits for next seasons possible promotion campaign doesn't fill me with confidence. Admittedly there will be a lot of players arriving who could alter that but we don't know and only time will tell.

Truer words never spoken

All that nonsense the Bignot lovers were talking about saying that experimentation was going on ready for next season. Well a lot of good that did for us!
I don't believe he was anyway. He was a lost sheep and was struggling.
Now the team is being dismantled and rebuilt ready for the opening few fixtures of next season.
It happens every year. That is the way it is!
So... if it was happening - do not make the same mistake and experiment towards the end of this season. Push for the best position all the way to the bitter end. Play to win every match and keep it exciting! :)