http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130107-clarke-contract-583981.aspx no big suprise, wish we had some money for him as he was soooo much worse than benson and we gave benson away in exchange for him, gutted but no where near good enough and just seemed to have the wrong attitude too.
No, I think this is the honourable and efficient way to do things. Any fee we would have got would have been nominal and soon surpassed by his wages if he had hung around. It didn't look as if he was giving us his best efforts, but he already had a reputation as an awkward customer when we signed him, so the club has to accept this is a gamble they got wrong and write it off to experience. The Good Doctor is patchy with his team selections and tactical mastery during matches, but why we all think he is the best manager for Charlton is because of the bigger picture, sustaining and enhancing the morale of the club. This is why we are probably safe from relegation now whereas we went down with more expensive players under Pardew (then Parky). So long as we keep our eye on longer-term objectives and the dressing-room stays united, we can afford a few wrong punts such as on Clarke. To maintain a good spirit among players and entice others to join, it is essential that the club is seen as fair, and sometime more than fair, to our staff. One or two malcontents hanging around, or even "training with the juniors" while battles are fought with their agents or lawyers, would cost us more than some nominal transfer fee in the longer run.
I like your use of "Mr", though. Is this a New Year Resolution? An encouraging first step back to more gentlemanly days of knickerbockers, tapes instead of crossbars, attacking centre-halves, and no questioning of referees' decisions.
There's bound to be al element of risk when you're shopping in the bargain basement as we are. We don't seem to be competing for players who have proved themselves at this level, so for every Lawrie Wilson you may well get a Leon Clarke. A sort of B.O.G.O.F.
It's all about the dance moves [video=youtube;pXrh_w5Obv4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXrh_w5Obv4[/video]
He came to a club top of the league and didn't try. It was down to him and not us. He had a lot to prove after Swindon/charlton so maybe it was a giant kick up the backside that he needed.
