https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/james-mckeown-discusses-grimsby-town-1529956?utm_source=google_news&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=google_news&utm_content=sitemap

Would just like to turn peoples attention to the article from the Telegraph regarding Macca's latest position. Wondering what other people's views are on what's said here?

Sounds to me like he has another offer on the table, a firm one. I hope Grimsby can match and hopefully even better any present offer already, a fantastic servant to the football club.

Motherwell can **** off (icon_lol)

I think that he is weighing up his options, it'll be truly sad to see him leave.

I'm hoping he stays, he offers a lot of qualities at this level and I think it will be difficult to find a better keeper on a permanent deal.

IF Macca is being offered £2.5/3k per week elsewhere then I wouldn't  Blame the club for not matching it.

On the other hand if we could manage a 15% or 20% rise then we should be doing so. If that means a reduction in numbers here or there so be it.

Time will tell t I hope he stays

Reading between the lines it sounds to me that he's off.

We'll do well to find another keeper at this level as decent as him. Apart from the time he spat his dummy out last season he's been a fantastic servant for the club, so whatever he decides I will wish him well.

Bye bye macca bit obvious in that interview tbh, I know it’s scottish pemiership but could quite possible be in Europe matches who would want to Turn that down

That would be a great move for him so I don't blame him if he went.  He's been one of the few shining lights for Town in the last ten years or so.  

Couldn't and wouldn't blame him if he did take a decent pay day.  Even a season or two at £100,000 would be tough to turn down.  At least we'll get a quick answer.

It does read like he's off. I think the best thing we could offer him is a contract with an option in it for him to leave if we didn't get promoted next season. It might just be enough to get him to stay for another season.

hes a gonner. better money and a good area for the bin lids.

Another example of the clubs folly in allowing his contract to terminate a extension should have been given last year yet another saleable asset being allowed to leave with no reward to us

The club should go all out to keep Macca. One of our best and most loyal servants in recent years. It would be a good statement by the club and it's intentions to back MJ and go for promotion next season. GTFC should show some ambition now and take this season as a reason to do so.

UTM.

I read it as a heavy hint to the club that he'd much rather stay here for family reasons, but that he needs a decent offer to make it worthwhile to stay. His agent has no doubt made it public that he's had this offer to sway the club. He's Town through and through, probably our most dedicated player, and in a close season where there's going to be a huge turnover of players,  I think that we need Macca to provide stability and to demonstrate to new players what it means to play for GTFC.

It's not a question of blackmail, it's just what an agent should be doing for his client. I'm sure he would stay if Town were to offer him a compromise between what he's earning now and what Motherwell have offered, assuming that he can be convinced that the club have ambition to push for promotion next season.

I think it sounds like he’s had an offer but is also putting himself on the open market.

In footballing terms I’m not convinced Motherwell is a great move but if he gets a better salary and a longer deal at the end of the day all players do it for their living.

Hope he stays, good luck to him if he goes👍

I assume this means he’ll now get POTY as that has become the “good luck in your new job” award

If he does go he owes us nothing and has been a great servant to the club. The only player to stay with us after the wilderness years in non-league.

His form and confidence took a massive blow for a good while understandably after that health scare a few years ago and.bringing Henderson in was a bitter pill to swallow for Macca but Since Jolley came he has found his form again.

He would definitely get my blessing whatever he decides to do no doubt Richard Tait has been singing his praises at Motherwell.

I think he'll go but how can Motherwell pay what they do on their gates. That's 3 of my favorite players signed for Motherwell. Can't we offer them 3 more instead of Macca

Macca has to do what is best for his family,

There is one thing he should think about though,

It does rain a lot in Scotland  ;)

Not worth the hassle James .

He makes the point that it’s his family that is his number 1 concern and I think they’ll want to stay put. I really hope so anyway........UTM

Quoted from oochiad

He makes the point that it’s his family that is his number 1 concern and I think they’ll want to stay put. I really hope so anyway........UTM

The kids will not like the rain they will have to stay in most days,

That's not nice is it Macca ?

The sort of player you could give a long contract to. He’s proven at this level and still young enough to improve for a keeper. He’s got an excellent injury record. Above all he’s got a smashing attitude and affinity for the town. People like this should’nt be allowed to come to the end of their contract.  Losing someone like Shaun Pearson was a massive mistake.  

People like Pearson and Mckeown are the characters that drag you over the line and can always be relied upon.

Quoted from monkeyboy

hes a gonner. better money and a good area for the bin lids.

Have you ever been to Motherwell? Bellshill is lovely for the kids ;)

McKeown in discussions over new contract
Michael Jolley has revealed this afternoon that the club are in talks with goalkeeper James McKeown about extending his stay with the club.

Is the 28-year-old set to remain a Mariner?

Taken from GET (twitter)

Apologies, ive read the full article and to me i think he's gone.

Quick MJ get Mitch Walker from Dover 👍

Family stability v family finances - very difficult situation. Hope you stay Macca but you know what's right for you.

Time stops for no man, in reality we all work to live, not live to work and if the rumours are true and Motherwell have offered £2/3K a week then who can blame him taking the chance to fill his coffers in what is by any ones terms a short career.
I don't believe for one minute he wants to leave GTFC, uproot his family and build a new life but can we stand in his way?.As a club we cannot match that offer so let him go, thank him for him services and wish him well in his new  venture...
Can we replace him?..for sure we can, in football, as hard as it is to stomach, sentiment bears no fruits in football...Good luck Macca and thanks for all the superb saves this season and those that have gone before..

Give hit m a 3 yr deal as he would then qualify for a testimonial

Football careers are short, he's been at the club for a long time and has given us many years of loyalty through the rough times. If he gets a good offer at this stage of his career then he should take it because a couple more years down the line and the offers will thin out.

Don't want to look back and say you didn't make enough money so your family is well taken care of when you had the chance.

I'm amazed everybody wants him to stay since when we got promoted people said he wasn't good enough at League 2.

I have always rated him a good keeper he dosen't owe us anything.

If Macca leaves he gets my best wishes great servent to to us.

Will this club ever progress? We lose our best players, season after season. It's what happens when you employ a numpty for a manager and d1ck around at the bottom of the league. Had we been pushing the other way and knowing we would be at least a league 2 club next season, we could have handed him a new contract sooner, before other teams were allowed to talk to him. Looks like another POTY is set to leave.

Macca in with a shout for player of the year, I voted for Luke Summerfield.

Quoted from ginnywings

Will this club ever progress? We lose our best players, season after season. It's what happens when you employ a numpty for a manager and d1ck around at the bottom of the league. Had we been pushing the other way and knowing we would be at least a league 2 club next season, we could have handed him a new contract sooner, before other teams were allowed to talk to him. Looks like another POTY is set to leave.

I don’t disagree but most league 2 clubs lose their better players in the end.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I don’t disagree but most league 2 clubs lose their better players in the end.

Not if they get promoted.  ;)

Just a very innocent question. How many players left the club after promotion from the Conference to L2 a couple of years ago? And how many were out of contract and were any not deemed good enough for the Football League?

(As an aside Borehamwood v Fylde, play-off eliminator on BT tonight. These are just good non leaguers. Borehamwood average 600 and they are delighted with the 'crowds flocking to watch them'. When compared with teams with FL tradition such as ourselves, Wrexham, Tranmere, Donny (in the past), Lincoln etc I don't think the minnows should be in the FL. Is that a a poor attitude on my behalf> I feel that we are a FL club and should never be in the dreaded, awful, terrible Conference)

now they have changed the Irn Bru recipe it really isnt worth going up there.

My sweaty colleagues reliably inform me Motherwell is an absolute shithole, so it's a like for like swap, but double 💰

All this talk about should have given a new deal sooner, to a player who would have been a Shrewsbury player had the two clubs agreed a fee for Macca.
Macca showed his hand last season, loyalty has long got in football nowdays.
If Macca has an offer on the table in 2/3k per week region, no way should town match it, however a 2 yr contract with 1 yr extension an a increase on his current wage to take him to a testimonial season.
What ever Maaca decides he has been a good servant for the club and owes us nothing.
I wish him all the best, hope he stays.

UTM

In his own words here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0664xyn

Says it is 50/50 and he's obviously been offered more money and is waiting to see if we can give him enough to make him stay here. Could be his last game on Saturday. Had more than 1 offer from elsewhere.

He's very fair in that interview. Nice lad. Him, Sean and Dizza seem to be out of the same mould in that regard. Done us proud over 7 years. You've got to wish him the best in whatever decision he makes. But it'll be sad to see him go.

Extra big cheers for him on Saturday.

Good luck James.

Our club has never rewarded loyalty

“Very rarely are you going to get an offer come in where someone puts a big chunk of money on the table and you have no other choice but to take it."

Did say over a week ago about this.

Good luck Macca.

It reads to me like he is pretty much going. I would love him to stay, but as much as I don't like saying it, I don't think Town should break the bank for him.. IMO one of the better keepers in this league, but definitely not irreplaceable.  
If you do go Macca I genuinely wish you all the best and thanks very much for your contribution in getting us back in the league.  

The board have to show a little bit more ambition to keep players like this,players don't really want to uproot their family when they are settled and it may only take a small wage increase to get a positive result,lessons need to be learnt from when we let our promotion team be decimated

It's not being ambitious to pay over the odds for a player, though, is it?

Much as I'd like McKeown to stay, because he's been a good keeper for us, if he's got a fantastic offer elsewhere which we can't or perhaps shouldn't match, then good luck to him. We then just have to trust that Jolley is able to sign a good replacement within a sensible budget.

In this day and age, the route of loaning out a young Premier League keeper for a season isn't perhaps such a bad one as Henderson has shown for the Shrews. The big clubs will invariably have no end of good keepers on the books after they've hoovered up all the decent hopefuls from smaller clubs so even a 3rd or 4th choice will probably be up to the job of League Two football.

Clearly Motherwell have put a very generous offer to him but if Town can get close enough then he'll stay. His "it will be sorted soon" comments suggests he's told the club what he wants and the ball's now firmly in their court. It sounds like a massive pay rise so I doubt we can compete in this case. :-/

Quoted from MeanwoodMariner

Clearly Motherwell have put a very generous offer to him but if Town can get close enough then he'll stay. His "it will be sorted soon" comments suggests he's told the club what he wants and the ball's now firmly in their court. It sounds like a massive pay rise so I doubt we can compete in this case. :-/

If Jolley has a squad made up of quality rather than quantity, there should be substantial funds available to reward the small number of players who deserve improved deals, like McKeown does. I think Town should be able to sort this, but they’ll no doubt mess him around and give him no choice.

He'll probably leave over £50 or petrol money.

Nah! That would never happen would it?  :-/

I wonder if there's any way of getting more creative with players pay. Obviously the basic budget has to be decided in advance and each player will be offered a slice of that. Bonuses for getting promotion seem obvious enough too.

But how about add-ons if the average attendance is much higher than expected for example? Seems like there's real potential for players to earn much more than their basic package in a season while at the same time the club aren't locked in to paying something they can't afford.

He could have left the summer after Gateshead beat us in the playoffs, which was probably his best season for us, but stayed on citing "unfinished business" after he dropped that clanger. For that, he will always be a club legend for me. He hasn't always had an easy ride from all of the support either. He was slated quite a lot around the Bignot period, but his attitude has always come across as superb. He is always honest and genuine when interviewed and he's an asset to the club. I'll be gutted if he goes, but I think everyone understands the situation. Will be interesting to see how he reacts at full time on Saturday.

Be with a heavy heart to see McKeown leave, very likable bloke who wears his heart on his sleeve.  Also he's the last link to that promotion side, which is a real emotional tie. No two ways about it, he's served us very, very well.

But in all honesty I think it may be time for him to go, especially if he's got the opportunity to earn mega money elsewhere.  He's an excellent Conference 'keeper and a good League Two 'keeper but I don't see him as the guy who will be in between the sticks if we progress up the levels.  

For Jolley, this is probably a bit of luck really.  There was a mixed reaction when Bignot dropped McKeown for Henderson, even though it was the right thing to do, so to bring someone in to compete and take his place would be fighting a battle with some of the fans.  By offering him a deal (that he's never really going to sign) it looks as if Jolley has done everything he can to keep him, but he can then look to upgrade without any opposition from the supporters.

Right, who’s starting a crowdfunder!?

😆

I don the know why everyone is being so dramatic- I just bought my tickets for tomorrow from the club shop and understand that macca s contract is sorted and might even be announced before tomorrow's match...

You have the answer here then from Fenty's man.

Macca should go to Scotland, some lovely scenery and places.

Can't we take a leaf out of Accrington's book and offer him free burgers after the match. Could be a deal breaker.

Quoted from Pouton4ever

I don the know why everyone is being so dramatic- I just bought my tickets for tomorrow from the club shop and understand that macca s contract is sorted and might even be announced before tomorrow's match...

Just because you might have some information which the rest of the world doesn't, it doesn't mean you can be a knobhead about it.

Quoted from Pouton4ever

I don the know why everyone is being so dramatic- I just bought my tickets for tomorrow from the club shop and understand that macca s contract is sorted and might even be announced before tomorrow's match...

As one of the people who intially said that it was Motherwell that had offered him a deal, i can tell you that his contract is not sorted and what you’re saying is untrue.

Macca is a decent league 2 keeper, a great shot stopper but prone to poor positioning and lacks  authority in the 6 yard box, A prime example was last Saturday, a wonder save and also a big mistake for their goal.

There are better keepers out there just like Henderson and I’m hoping MJ with his contacts will find one, what will happen if Macca stays and Jolley does get a better keeper? He’ll play the best players available and drop Macca,  everyone clearly saw that Henderson was better so why won’t this happen again? When he was dropped  he wanted to leave (unlike Pearson) so I don’t buy this “he loyal to town” thing

If he goes, good luck to him, always gave his best for us and made that connection with us fans and if a chance comes along to earn good money for his family he should take it, we move on

Quoted from Sussexmariner

Macca is a decent league 2 keeper, a great shot stopper but prone to poor positioning and lacks  authority in the 6 yard box, A prime example was last Saturday, a wonder save and also a big mistake for their goal.

There are better keepers out there just like Henderson and I’m hoping MJ with his contacts will find one, what will happen if Macca stays and Jolley does get a better keeper? He’ll play the best players available and drop Macca,  everyone clearly saw that Henderson was better so why won’t this happen again? When he was dropped  he wanted to leave (unlike Pearson) so I don’t buy this “he loyal to town” thing

If he goes, good luck to him, always gave his best for us and made that connection with us fans and if a chance comes along to earn good money for his family he should take it, we move on

No keeper at this level or the one above, or the one above that is perfect and sometimes make mistakes. All I’ll say is that McKeown has won us a lot more points than he’s lost over his time here with us. We saw when he was out injured, and the previous goalkeepers we had prior to him, that a good keeper is not necessarily that easy to find.

Quoted from davmariner

No keeper at this level or the one above, or the one above that is perfect and sometimes make mistakes. All I’ll say is that McKeown has won us a lot more points than he’s lost over his time here with us. We saw when he was out injured, and the previous goalkeepers we had prior to him, that a good keeper is not necessarily that easy to find.

For me the "great" town teams have been marked by having a "great" keeper, Danny Coyne, Aiden Davison, Steve Sherwood... those few weeks with Dave Beasant

Edit I put "great" because we re not talking Barcelona or Peter Schemiecal (Spelling??)

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Just because you might have some information which the rest of the world doesn't, it doesn't mean you can be a knobhead about it.

Thanks for that but perhaps I should explain better- I heard a few people in front of me in the queue talking about it and everyone nodding, so I assumed it was common knowledge - hence why I said I "understand" not I know...

I've already posted thanking James for his contributions to the cause but I cannot erase from my mind that when the going got tough and he was relegated to number 2 he see his @rse, chucked his toys out the pram and handed in a transfer request...shame that, because that will always leave a sour taste in my mouth for what is undoubtedly one of the best keepers we've had at this level..

The thing is, we don't have a clue what was going on behind the scenes at that point. With that clown Bignot in charge, it could have been anything at all.

With the amount of money we have wasted this season and last on Quantity over quality, the money must surely be there. Take for example Kelly, Dixon, macalister; have we really “needed” these and others this season?

Theirs or other not needed players wages theoretically could cover an increase for Macca.

All this talk of budgets constraints and managing expectations doesn’t really fit in with the statement made in January by the board - essentially committing to backing the then manager.

With macca; he wants to stay and I think we’d be foolish to let him leave - get it done, simple! It’s exactly the sort of things the board (Fenty) need to do if they want to repair any bridges with the fans.

Quoted from Pouton4ever

Thanks for that but perhaps I should explain better- I heard a few people in front of me in the queue talking about it and everyone nodding, so I assumed it was common knowledge - hence why I said I "understand" not I know...

If we'd known you'd overheard a few people in a queue and seen some nodding then obviously the speculation would have swiftly concluded.

Quoted from Pouton4ever

Thanks for that but perhaps I should explain better- I heard a few people in front of me in the queue talking about it and everyone nodding, so I assumed it was common knowledge - hence why I said I "understand" not I know...

As it was you who stated that we still haven't had all the money from Wigan for Bogle, I suspect you know more than understand.

Doesn't owe the club anything, so if he moves good luck and best wishes.

I think we can easily overlook he's still a young keeper - not the finished article. But he works hard to improve his game, so his limit is in his hands.
Seems like Motherwell think so (quoting what I read, not what I know).

He's clearly good enough for L2 (which is where we'll be next season), and comments like he's not sufficiently commanding for L1 strike me as
a bit premature - we can't expect MJ to turn around a relegation-bound club into promotion challengers.
* I'd be the last one to say MJ can't do it btw. *

Hope the Club bust a gut to keep him....because he cares.

Quoted from 137

But he works hard to improve his game, so his limit is in his hands.

Nice one!  ;D

Couple of conspiracy theories spring to mind,

Motherwell are mid table league 1 level at best and arguably  so are Shrewsbury.

Shrews go up Henderson stays and Macca to Motherwell, Shrews stay down Henderson goes and Macca pinched by Hurst.

Though if GTFC want to show a “statement of intent” a 3 year deal with a decent pay rise will keep “Mr Grimsby” where he is loved.

McKeown was happy under Hurst, (even) Slade and now is under Jolley. Make of that what you will. IMO he never explained his transfer request properly and the real reason was never properly disclosed. He wasn’t the only player unhappy at the time (there were other players in the starting XI who had the same serious concerns) and this was part of the reason why things changed shortly after.

His transfer request wasnt just about being dropped and him throwing a wobbler. He was being told things behind closed doors about his future that didn’t quite match up with what had been said in the media.

Quoted from Mikey_345

With the amount of money we have wasted this season and last on Quantity over quality, the money must surely be there. Take for example Kelly, Dixon, macalister; have we really “needed” these and others this season?

Theirs or other not needed players wages theoretically could cover an increase for Macca.

All this talk of budgets constraints and managing expectations doesn’t really fit in with the statement made in January by the board - essentially committing to backing the then manager.

With macca; he wants to stay and I think we’d be foolish to let him leave - get it done, simple! It’s exactly the sort of things the board (Fenty) need to do if they want to repair any bridges with the fans.

Doesn't really fit in with Philip Day's claim that top half League One is our rightful level either. If we can't compete at the top end of League Two budget wise with the current board in charge, how the hell are we rightfully a top half League One club?

Quoted from Pouton4ever

For me the "great" town teams have been marked by having a "great" keeper, Danny Coyne, Aiden Davison, Steve Sherwood... those few weeks with Dave Beasant

Edit I put "great" because we re not talking Barcelona or Peter Schemiecal (Spelling??)

Nigel Batch   ;)

Quoted from promotion plaice

Nigel Batch   ;)

The fact that P4E missed out Batchy would suggest he’s part of the Fenty clan i.e. not seen at BP before 1984😉

Quoted from HertsGTFC

The fact that P4E missed out Batchy would suggest he’s part of the Fenty clan i.e. not seen at BP before 1984😉

To be fair to Fenners, I reckon him and his bredren were there before then.

Quoted from Mikey_345

With the amount of money we have wasted this season and last on Quantity over quality, the money must surely be there. Take for example Kelly, Dixon, macalister; have we really “needed” these and others this season?

Theirs or other not needed players wages theoretically could cover an increase for Macca.

All this talk of budgets constraints and managing expectations doesn’t really fit in with the statement made in January by the board - essentially committing to backing the then manager.

With macca; he wants to stay and I think we’d be foolish to let him leave - get it done, simple! It’s exactly the sort of things the board (Fenty) need to do if they want to repair any bridges with the fans.

Lets be honest though Mikey, that was just lip-service and talk to appease the fans who were getting restless.

They promised to back the manger in the transfer window, and then preceded to off-load our most creative and better paid players to replace them with inadequate replacements, at the same time complaining that new players were too expensive.

Usual PR approach of fob us off and hope we forget or don't notice.

A very good read

[tweet]992474624318418952[/tweet]

That's an awesome article, thanks for sharing!

He does come across as a top bloke.I wish him all the best whatever decision he makes