"Lichaj, a USA international, signed terms with Turkish Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük but after suffering a hip injury in the first half of the campaign which curtailed his progress, he subsequently agreed to be released from his contract to allow the club to utilise his overseas spot with another player." Could have stayed with his family, avoided loose bowels and captained us to promotion ....
I don't know if they were offered money or not. The question of showing loyalty for the sake of it is a tough one, heart says yes, head says caution. There's an old saying 'No good deed goes unpunished', it's caught me out a few times in my working life and it's a chastening experience.
I love the Corinthian spirit, but it was 2020 FFS. No chance whatsoever of them playing for anything less than what they and agents thought they were worth. It was n't just City players. It was very clear nationally that many players coming to the end of their contracts would have uncertain futures due to the financial hits clubs were taking. Therefore many players said they couldn't risk getting injured in that extended season. Particularly so of those coming to the end of their careers. I think only City allowed 5/6 key players to leave. I was surprised and disappointed with Lichaj, but purely by his and Allam's previous reputations, I would believe the City offer was derisory.
A point of order re the thread title. He's bound to be among the best in league one, given he's now a Championship player.
Irvine's just scored his first goal in Scotland and is having a good season and Lichaj has had a season in Turkey and is now heading back to England.
And don't you think the club should have shown some loyalty to them and given them some assurances in the event of any injuries incurred while playing for the club while essentially out of contract? Both have said they would have been happy to carry on playing if there had been any indication that if they got injured the contract extensions the club had in hand would have been activated. But as it was, the club said no, if you're injured you're out on your ass without a club.
There was an interview done at the time with Irvine and Lichaj, I'll see if I can dig it up, but this was hardly news I didn't think.
https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/irvine...ifted the,side headed for eventual relegation. I mean reading between the lines he would have been happy to take a cheaper contract if just for the security of a contract in case of injury.
Reading what you want between the lines then yet Kevin stewart played so there you go anyway let him and Lichaj rot
How else would you read "They could have offered a contract on different terms"? You think he was after a pay rise? Come on mate. Pretty ridiculous language for two players who always put in for the club and then were hung out to dry because they were two of the top earners and Ehab was panicking.
Also a lot younger so prepared to take the gamble with a potential injury as he wasn't at the end of his career.
Didn't actually realise Stewart was that old, for some reason had it in my head he was 23/24. You're entitled to your opinion as I am to mine, but saying they can rot because they didn't want to play for free with no security is harsh in my books. Plenty of other clubs had players do the same.
They were asked to play during the month where their contract would be providing funds as all contracts do while players are off-season and looking for a club. With the season time-shifted a month, that meant they were forgoing those funds that would normally be available post-season. Call it what you want, but they were taking a reduced pay to play. Being asked to work for 13 months for the pay of 12 or however else you want to view it.
My understanding for what it's worth is that as per the norm playing contracts ended 30 June, the season went beyond that. Both players would have been paid their respective going rates until the season ended, the club needed them to play, but given they were not being retained chose to put themselves first and not the club. Their call, their perogative.
If I'm reading it right, they were both City players at the time and were being paid. The club chose not to offer them a contract for the NEXT season, nothing to do with the current season. They effectively shat on their team mates, the club and walked away. Stewart didn't.
