Its almost like hes holding GTFC to ransom. It seems to be a case of he thinks  GTFC need him more than he needs them.

Yes I know he is entitled to ask for more money, but as we all know now, money, and contracts, are at a premium at the moment. You'd think that in these times any player who has the chance of a contract would snap the chance up without a moments hesitation. Lets face it, if a player has 'survived' on £1K a week (ball park figure) does he really need another 200 quid a week at the moment? If a player signs a contract, he has an income. If he pushes for more money when its clearly not available, then he is without a club and no income. Go figure.

One player is not more important than the club.

Look at Ozil at Arsenal; got the big contract, doesn't perform, ostracises team mates, whole team imbalance.

Not saying Clarke is like that, but the hesitation to sign suggests he's keeping his options open (who wouldnt) but the club needs to be strong enough to go for what is in the teams best interests.

Leicester won the premier with low wages but a fantastic team spirit.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Its almost like hes holding GTFC to ransom. It seems to be a case of he thinks  GTFC need him more than he needs them.

Yes I know he is entitled to ask for more money, but as we all know now, money, and contracts, are at a premium at the moment. You'd think that in these times any player who has the chance of a contract would snap the chance up without a moments hesitation. Lets face it, if a player has 'survived' on £1K a week (ball park figure) does he really need another 200 quid a week at the moment? Lets face it, if a player signs a contract, he has an income. If he pushes for more money when its clearly not available, then he is without a club and no income. Go figure.

One player is not more important than the club.

A player of that age or any age in the current landscape will pretty much sign the biggest deal an agent can get him.

More often than not they’re not that bothered who they play for as long as they’re getting regular starts and paid what “they” believe they’re worth.

If there is one potential good thing to come out of this mess it might just be that agents don’t cream as much off the top as they have done previously for adding no overall value to the game ..... I hope!

I don’t begrudge Clarke a decent living but considering prior to a relatively decent patch with us he couldn’t get in the team at Plymouth and IH signed him after a prompt from some of his former Blackpool team mates I’d doubt he’ll get many massive offers.

All that said I’d be pleased to see him in a Town shirt next season.

He’s probably just waiting it out for a bit. Can’t blame him.

Got to remember there's little loyalty in football at the moment and it works both ways. Clarke is 33 in December and needs to make the most of his last few years in the game. He came here, did a good job when we were in trouble at the wrong end of the league, but if he hadn't we'd have dumped him sharpish.
If we can sign him I'd be happy but if not good luck to the guy. Same applies to Vernam.

Like is being said, I would really like him to stay, but in these times we all have to do what is best for yourselves. That being both him and us.
Hopefully he will re-sign for us. 😎

Do we know what his demands are ?

Agents are the lowest of the low all they are concerned about is what is their cut.

If Clarke wants to stay and he did plead with Ollie to sign him he will tell his agent to except what is on offer.

Which will be 25% less than he was on until we can get crowds back in .

Every club is in the same boat well apart from a few rich chairmen throwing money away.

Clarke for me was one of the better things to come out of the end of last season, really livened our front play up, linked up with players in all areas, quality on the ball, great movement. Think we would struggle to find similar qualities/ experience.  Would love us to sign him again but albeit within our limits.

He probably has one, maybe two years left. Isn't local, has no ties to the area and is only likely to have signed for us to put himself in the shop window.

Clearly he was fantastic at this level, but money is tight so our offer isn't going to be great. He will want the most he can get, and he will definitely get a contract somewhere, so it's only right he tries to do what's best for him. I hope he's with us next season, but don't want us to break the budget for him, or anybody else for that matter.

Think we can be objective about this.
We would like to sign him at the right price.
He would like to stay at the right price.
He has plenty of options
We have plenty of candidates

Don’t think anyone needs to overreact. If we can agree with him, fine.
If not there are plenty of alternatives on both sides.

My heart missed s beat when I saw the thread title.am I the only one still paranoid about Jamie Clarke?

I seem to recall that Danny Collins sat on the fence a couple of times before signing at the last minute.

Bradford bound...feel like we've been used as billboard by him...sour taste sits in my mouth now.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Bradford bound...feel like we've been used as billboard by him...sour taste sits in my mouth now.

Why should he have any loyalty to us? If he'd been crap, should we have given him a contract? It works both ways, he is good enough to get a better deal elsewhere, and going back to a club he's played for that will probably have more money and maybe closer to home (I don't know where his home is).

He lives menston / guisley way so defo closer to Bradford

Increased wages, played for them before, closer to home, also worked with Stuart McCall before...no brainer for him really.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Bradford bound...feel like we've been used as billboard by him...sour taste sits in my mouth now.

We offered him a 6 month deal and it's finished.

Quoted from Abdul19

We offered him a 6 month deal and it's finished.

Another fine example of using facts to ruin someones argument......thats fighting dirty on here  ;D

Seem to recall Clarke wanted a longer deal in January but IH wanted him to prove himself which, in January, everyone said was a logical decision.

Fast forward 6 months and we haven't kicked a ball since March as we are in the middle of a global pandemic. We don't know when 60% of our income can enter the stadium so what we paid him in January and promised to match or increase in the summer is no longer on the table.

In hindsight we would have signed him on an 18 month deal. Clubs are starting to make signings but we have a manager that can attract players. I am usually against loan signings but I believe you can have 5 in your match day squad and if IH can attract a few like Benson and Glennon for the season that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

I am usually against loan signings but I believe you can have 5 in your match day squad and if IH can attract a few like Benson and Glennon for the season that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

At this level, having loan players is a necessity. Benson and Glennon would be good to get back. They added a lot to the team, and both hit the back of the net. Hopefully Ollie has enough draw to lure some more talented players, both for loan and to sign permanently.

He looked good in a bang average squad. I trust that IH will bring in just as good or even better once we get going again.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

At this level, having loan players is a necessity. Benson and Glennon would be good to get back. They added a lot to the team, and both hit the back of the net. Hopefully Ollie has enough draw to lure some more talented players, both for loan and to sign permanently.

We've had some bad loan signings over the years but a full season loan is effectively a permanent signing on a one year deal. I think in the past we have been given those players clubs don't want anymore but Glennon and Benson are players that Burnley have high hopes for so sent them to a work under a manager they know will benefit them.

Embleton is a success story that clubs will want to see and also Henderson. If Benson and Glennon get some games under their belt at Burnley we are an even more attractive proposition for players to come here on loan.

Signing players and having to pay them when there’s no income and no prospect of L2 starting for months sounds like lunacy to me !!

Like with CV I would be disappointed to see Clarke leave but as others have said for him this is an absolute no brainer. A club he has played for twice before, more money, closer to home and in all honesty a bigger club which, when allowed, attracts nearly 3x the home fans then town.

Shame as both of these guys are good footballers with excellent ball control which sadly has not always been the case where town forward players are concerned. Still as I’ve said previously until we know the final make up of next years squad it’s very difficult to make comment but I remain positive better times are ahead.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Like with CV I would be disappointed to see Clarke leave but as others have said for him this is an absolute no brainer. A club he has played for twice before, more money, closer to home and in all honesty a bigger club which, when allowed, attracts nearly 3x the home fans then town.

Shame as both of these guys are good footballers with excellent ball control which sadly has not always been the case where town forward players are concerned. Still as I’ve said previously until we know the final make up of next years squad it’s very difficult to make comment but I remain positive better times are ahead.

There are lots of Bradford City fans round here who would be disappointed if he rejoins them. Possibly not a done deal yet.

Considering Ollie took him from not even making the first team at Plymouth, to playing every week, personally I think it stinks that he has shown no loyalty to Ollie or GTFC. Just pound signs flashing before his eyes. Where were Bradford when he had faded into obscurity at Plymouth?

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Considering Ollie took him from not even making the first team at Plymouth, to playing every week, personally I think it stinks that he has shown no loyalty to Ollie or GTFC. Just pound signs flashing before his eyes. Where were Bradford when he had faded into obscurity at Plymouth?

You know why he was playing every week? because he was the best option we had. not because Ollie liked him or favoured him. He owes us nothing. 6 months ment that if he played well he could resign for more money with us or another team willing to pay.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Where were Bradford when he had faded into obscurity at Plymouth?

They had a different manager then (and McCall managed him there before)

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Considering Ollie took him from not even making the first team at Plymouth, to playing every week, personally I think it stinks that he has shown no loyalty to Ollie or GTFC. Just pound signs flashing before his eyes. Where were Bradford when he had faded into obscurity at Plymouth?

Right. I'm sure that with your best years dwindling down performance wise and the offer from a bigger company for more money, better prospects for your family,etc. You'd be turning that job offer down to stay where you currently work when they can't afford to give you a raise and you might even have to take a pay cut. All these people whining about loyalty expecting players to behave the same way towards the club as fans do would all take the better offer because that is what makes sense. Football careers are short so you need to get what you can from it. Concepts like loyalty make no sense in the job market when you have marketable skills.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Considering Ollie took him from not even making the first team at Plymouth, to playing every week, personally I think it stinks that he has shown no loyalty to Ollie or GTFC. Just pound signs flashing before his eyes. Where were Bradford when he had faded into obscurity at Plymouth?

Don't be naive. He doesn't have the Grimsby badge tattooed on his calf. He owes us nothing and ditto. Good luck to anyone who can secure employment on half decent money in the current climate.

Do you know what, i don't really think there is one single player we have that would make me really really gutted if they left.
What i see is an opportunity to get better in.

Ethan Robson may be worth a punt but cant see the 2 Burnley lads coming back as they are on the fringes of the prem now so can see a championship loan for both.

Like i said we will get some new lads in that hopefully will be an improvement to the team.

Quoted from monkeyboy

Do you know what, i don't really think there is one single player we have that would make me really really gutted if they left.
What i see is an opportunity to get better in.

Ethan Robson may be worth a punt but cant see the 2 Burnley lads coming back as they are on the fringes of the prem now so can see a championship loan for both.

Like i said we will get some new lads in that hopefully will be an improvement to the team.

Completely agree I think IH rates Robson too. All in all though you’d expect clubs to have a bigger pool to fish in which will inevitably bring down wages.

I’m optimistic that IH and the current situation will actually give us a much more balanced/stringer squad overall and we’ll be less dependent on one or two individuals which is somewhere we haven’t been for a very long time.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Completely agree I think IH rates Robson too. All in all though you’d expect clubs to have a bigger pool to fish in which will inevitably bring down wages.

I’m optimistic that IH and the current situation will actually give us a much more balanced/stringer squad overall and we’ll be less dependent on one or two individuals which is somewhere we haven’t been for a very long time.

I hope your right I think we have 11 experienced pros 3 of which are still young and not exactly world beaters yet Seriously do people think any of the more mature players left other than Hendrie/Mckeown are league winning quality taking into account injury proneness, liable to do a member up, pick up bans or simply not that good etc.

It's official, Billy Clarke signs for Bradford for a third spell:

https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2020/july/clarke-returns-for-third-stint/

I think if we’re patient then there are going to be loads of players getting quite desperate and be happy to sign, they’ll also have to accept a lesser wage.

Thank God for that. I can imagine to get him to GTFC Ollie will have had to dangle the cash-flavoured carrot in front of him to get him to play for us in the first place, so now that he has finally fleeced us out of more money while he made his decision, we now have more money for wages in the kitty for new players. Who knows, we may be able to get 2 players in for what we were paying Clarke.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Thank God for that. I can imagine to get him to GTFC Ollie will have had to dangle the cash-flavoured carrot in front of him to get him to play for us in the first place, so now that he has finally fleeced us out of more money while he made his decision, we now have more money for wages in the kitty for new players. Who knows, we may be able to get 2 players in for what we were paying Clarke.

We could get 5 players in but if theyre all sh1t3 it doesn't add up to 1 good player

Quoted from Madeleymariner

We could get 5 players in but if theyre all sh1t3 it doesn't add up to 1 good player

I agree, but we are talking Ollie here. He's already made his intentions clear.

I'm actually quite p!ssed about this... Ollie gave him an olive branch to get his career going again, albeit in his twilight years. He's tarnished any adoration as a town fan I had for him,

We enjoyed watching whilst he was here.
Move on there will be someone else fills his boots

Not followed this at all but Clarke didn’t owe Grimsby anything. He came at Christmas and gave us half a good season. He’s a good player at this level and wanted more money than we could offer in uncertain times and at the back end of his career.

No need to be rolling out the red carpet for him when he comes back with Bradford, but no need for any bitterness either.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

I'm actually quite p!ssed about this... Ollie gave him an olive branch to get his career going again, albeit in his twilight years. He's tarnished any adoration as a town fan I had for him,

Adoration?!?!

Makes me wonder how strongly you felt about the likes of Futcher, Groves, McDermott, Mendonca etc?

I couldn’t give a flying intercourse he’s gone

He played well for us while he was here. No problem with him leaving, although I would have liked him to stay. But that’s life. Good luck to him, we move on.

He will be forgotten by the start of the season.

Quoted from TAGG

He will be forgotten by the start of the season.

...................... who?

Think he lives in Menston which is out north of Bradford so will be great for him on a personal level. Liked him and thought he was a proper player but don't begrudge him the decision or doubt Ollie's ability to bring in as good if not better.