We've touched in other posts on what might happen to contracts if we drop down, and the lack of movement for youngsters like the Tank (he's not the only one whose current contract expires in the summer). In an interview with the local paper Felix has confirmed that it's "wait and see". " Fulham boss Felix Magath has put all contract talks on hold until the end of the season. John Arne Riise, Steve Sidwell and Damien Duff are among the players whose deals are up in the summer. But Magath insists any new contracts will have to wait until the Cottagers' fate is decided one way or the other. He said: "At the moment I don't care about the contract situation because we are fighting against relegation. It's different whether you play in the Premier League or the Championship. It's not the time to talk about contracts." Doubt if there's even an issue with JAR and Damien. For the rest however, the question is whether this news will motivate or otherwise?
You'd think with the younger lads our situation wouldn't matter. It's not like they'll be demanding huge wages that we couldn't afford as a Championship club. If we don't offer the U23s contracts we'll get absolutely no compensation when they leave.
Exactly. Looking at this a bit closer, the majority of first team contracts in fact don’t expire until Summer 2015. For those the options will be, a) sell or b) let them run their course or c) negotiate a new deal. And I guess which League we are in will be a determining factor in each case. For the relatively few first team squad with contracts expiring in Summer 2014; Sidwell and Etheridge - probably offer a new deal Riise, Duff and Boateng - release Of much more concern is the large number of youngsters with contracts expiring in Summer 2014 - Arthurworrey Banya (although has 1 yr option) Bettinelli Briggs Brister Christensen Della Verde Islamovic Jorenen Minkwitz (although has 1yr option) Oberschmidt Pritchard Tankovic Williams (Ryan) [There are also a number of U18s where I don’t know their contract details] As FI says, the problem is do nothing now and we run the risk of losing them for nothing.
I'm sure that out of contract players under the age of 23 don't go for free transfers, there would be 'training compensation' payable for anyone who moved clubs. We'd still rather not lose them though. For what it's worth, I think that a lot of our brighter prospects would probably prefer to stick with us and the prospect of first team football in a familiar environment even if we went down. I'm not losing any sleep over this, not yet anyway.
I am with Captain on this. Check where we are when time comes. From the first team, the only person I would offer a new contract would be Sidwell.
I believe JAR has already signed a pre-contract with someone else already. On twitter a few back he said something able being excited by the new challenge next season before stressing he was still committed to Fulham. Personally I’m pleased he’s going, I think it would be a massive mistake to offer him a new deal.
The compensation for a youth player in an Elite squad who is out-of-contract is, £40,000 for each year at the club before the age of 17 plus £150,000 if they’ve played for the first team. Neither of those qualifications apply to many in the list so, basically we’ll get diddly squat. You are correct though that’s not really the big issue. I’d argue however, neither is it whether the individual player will retain an affinity for the Club. What is at stake is the apparent complete lack of a Business Plan within the Club. It cost £2.5m a year to maintain Elite status and involves employing at leat 18 people to support the Academy structure. You’re only going to make a return on that investment if players break into the first team; saving on transfer fees or gaining by selling them on after they have. That hasn’t happened - evidence the bust up earlier this season between Jol and the Academy bosses (primarily Steve Wigley). Personally I think this is where the CEO should be called to tune and questions asked why he wasn’t more challenging of Jol. Will this change in the future? Probably if we drop down. However, will we wish to continue that level of investment if the Club drops down? Only the owner can answer that.
Is it not the case that you only receive compensation if they have been offered a contract. Why would another club have to pay us if we decide to release them?
I think the powers that be recognise a difference between a club deciding to release someone and not yet having offered a new contract. Besides, most contracts run out at the end of May, not the last day of the season so there is still time to offer a contract to someone once the season ends. Still, it would be a shame to lose any of the rising stars unnecessarily.
The Tank has told Swedish newspaper Expressen, "I really want to stay at Fulham and we have been talking about a new contract for a year. But we’ll see. I know there are other clubs to choose from too, so we’ll see what happens. There are clubs in the Premier League and some abroad too. We’ll see what happens." Perhaps this will be the catalyst to get the Club moving.
