I can't imagine that, for a moment, Rafa will go to Leicester. But this goes to show that other clubs are realising that Rafa's tenure here is fragile and may well not continue. And as more clubs are showing interest in him then it stands to reason that he may realise that he can do something elsewhere and not be willing to be held over a barrel by Ashley. It's easy to stay when no-one else wants you. It's easier to leave when there's others who do.
Straw clutching. An ever so slightly different scenario Mr Short finds himself in. I don't think its comparable to look at a League 1 club with ambitions of promotion but no money to achieve it, then compare it with a well run PL football club sitting in mid table and access to astronomical TV money. Mike has no financial pressure to make him write off a debt. The club keeps its head above water of its own volition outside of the relegations. It always bounces back from the relegations too. It just needs someone to come in and pump enough money in on a regular basis to make that no longer an issue. Sunderland are ****ed from top to bottom. Mind its still hard to believe he'd walk away from the money being bandied about. The club must be in desperate trouble to make him do that. If they are thinking he has done as a goodwill gesture they are deluded. He will have some economics brainbox telling why its time to cut losses. I don't think these guys taking over are going to be minted either. I don't think this will see them out of the **** they're in.
I think he will get the next 2 parachute payments. The new regime will go into debt to buy players as soon as. One nightmare ends, as another begins.! Happy Days..
There has to be something in it. Otherwise it begs the question why in January he didn't just spend say 10m to keep the club up? Bizarre turn of events really. I don't know how much a relegation to the 3rd tier (I'll never get sick of saying that to them) costs.
If he wants that, he needs to invest this summer, no way will anyone pay that if Rafa leaves and we still have this same squad. If we finish 8-10th, we have overachieved with a championship squad, simple as. It wont be the same next season. Rafa or not, we will struggle to stay up if there's no investment.
These reports of other clubs eyeing him up just give Rafa more wiggle room for transfer funds. "Give me the money Mikey or..."
They will receive £35M parachute payment which pays their current squad almost for all of next season - however, I would then expect them to sell quite a few of those high earners such as Kone, Ndong, Borini, Khazri and Djibodji (sp) - maybe even Crappymole and O'Shea which would then reduce wage bill to circa £20M a year but will also bring in about £20M in funds. They have some ok youngsters and with 4 or 5 astute signings then its fairly positive for them. Obvs though a 3-0 loss to Accrington Stanley is still on the cards.
