I don't know how true it is, but I read those with release fee's built in also have an automatic 40% reduction in their wage for relegation if they remain. This would make good sense and also explain why all the agents are asking for moves. We could easily allow those release fee's to get met unchallenged, or we could go back to the player and offer them an improved contract if we wished to keep them. A lot of poker games going on at the moment, hopefully once the new coach and director of football are in place things can start to settle down.
I believe every player has relegation salary reduction clauses at Leeds (common in the industry) … and all the recent signings have release fees in (fairly common these days but not all clubs do it). I don’t believe that the clauses are necessarily linked Ie you can have one without the other. when I say ‘I believe’, I mean ‘I’ve read in the past from random unreliable sources’
Sky Sports are reporting Webber wanted to take some time out, he was open to remaining at Norwich to provide a smooth transition but that could change as a La Liga club are chasing him.
When you see all these reports of players wanting to leave, does it come as any real surprise that we were relegated with that level of commitment to the club. I’d say that is another failure of our recruitment team, not finding players with the right mentality and heart for the fight.
Beats me that they’re allowed to have relegation release fees. Imagine going into work asking for a failure bonus written into your contract
If you were given a 40% pay cut would you move jobs if you had the chance? This is football in the 21st century. A knock on effect of the salary reductions and the staying up Bonus… is that there are plenty of ££££ reasons for players to try and avoid relegation. Don’t disagree that loyalty to the cause would be nice… but personally I’ve never played or been involved in any team where there wasn’t a team bond, desire to win. It’s not like a fan’s lifetime commitment though. And it isn’t at any club. When the season’s over, that’s when the agents come in and money talks. Do I think wanting to leave says something about the mental fragility of this squad? Well I agree we have some chokers in the side - loads of mistakes and heads dropping when we conceded… so you can question the recruitment on that. But Strikes me that the guys who, I’d say, did put it out for the cause… like Rodrigo, Adams… they want out too.
Maybe with the players facing a 40% pay cut who we want to keep - tell them they’ll get the difference back plus a bonus on promotion? That would at least focus their minds to the cause and would reward success.
just a negotiating tool really... players are worried they're going to a team that might get relegated (correctly worried in this instance) - this is their get out of jail free card. Makes it easier to get a better class of player... in theory
Also makes them think with a few games to go, I don’t give a toss I’m off. It makes you wonder with 8 or so games to go, which ones had meetings with their agents saying find me another club. Those around us really fought for survival, look at Bournemouth, we just rolled over with a whimper
Then they miss their staying up bonus. And og they can;t find another club have a 40% pay cut to deal with. I really don't believe any of them didn't try. There's a difference between lack of effort and lack of confidence/belief... and sadly, ability. Whilst few are interested in Big Sam's opinions, I think he said it like it was on a few things. He threw them under the bus for not having what it takes, for choking and making mistakes in games they don't make in training. He didn't question their effort. I don't know why he was surprised though as it had happened week in week out to the 3 previous managers too.
Leicester did that a few years ago, the squad got together and agreed to do it and they bounced straight back up.
I didn’t mean I expected them to be loyal but if you have release fees, why bust a gut for the club paying your wages when you know some other higher division team will take you. I might be being a bit strong in accusing some of them downing tools for that reason but we seemed to meekly accept our fate, which even Sam commented on with how surprised he was by the lack of fight.
If you believe footballers are pure mercenaries and care nothing for their club... let's follow the logic. If your team stays up, you stay in the PL and keep your PL salary and get your staying up bonus. IF your team gets relegated you may... i stress may... get a side willing to pay your release fee. In which case (unless you are one of the few untainted by relegation - adams, rod, gnonto, sini, jimmy... that's probably it) who may get a gig on a similar salary elsewhere... you are looking at a pay cut if you get relegated. And you lose your 'staying up bonus' regardless. So... I just don't follow the logic that for most of them it's in their interests to down tools. It might have been for Raph last year when he was heading to Barca... but that was with our blessing anyway. These clauses are there to help sign 'better' players than we would otherwise get. And the quid pro quo of reduced salaries if they stay, protects the club from financial difficulties. It's an insurance policy for both parties not a 'de-motivator' So, I understand people thinking they have an escape route so won't care... but in my view the maths generally doesn't stack up. I see the issue as the quality of the players we signed not the release clauses in their contracts... but hey, we all see these things differently
Almost totally disagree with this. How many players does it take to down tools to scupper a team? And it does stack up because the “better players” will go leaving the usual dross, which may have caused what appeared to be a serious split in the changing room. Agree you may not get the same premier league salary but guessing it will be more than the 40 (or 60 depending upon reports) percentage you get from relegation. I’m not saying you’re wrong but I for one didn’t see a desperation to keep us up that I saw from Forest or Bournemouth
you totally disagree but you’re not saying I’m wrong welcome to disagree bud… it’s all opinions. here’s a take on the impact of relegation from the Torygraph a while back. They don’t mention Bournemouth but a firesale was expected at forest… they think our release clauses weren’t set cheap.. whilst the pay cuts were substantial. So personally I’m Not sure our players ‘should’ have been less motivated than forest/Bournemouth. Doesn’t mean they weren’t. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/05/18/how-bad-relegation-from-premier-league-would-be/
Just because I totally disagree with you doesn’t make me right or you wrong. And all I can say is both Forest and Bournemouth found surprising and unexpected results whilst we surrendered and got battered home and away.
