Decisions and Targets
Wednesday, 21st May 2003 00:00

Decisions To Be Made, Targets To Be Seen

Home >Story Index> Decision Time For Many And Latest Target

As you could predict at this time of season rumours are flying around on who has rejected terms at the club and who is happy with the offer that they have received. To date no contracts have been signed which could easily worry fans as much as they could think 'no news is good news'

I am not surprised that we have not seen any new signings. Players are still under contract with their clubs until June 30 and most will be keeping their options open at this moment in time. Flynn claims he is talking to potential new players and at the moment we have no reason at all to doubt him - do we?

As for our 'retained' list. So far, we know we have retained nil. Bristol City and James Thomas is not fiction as we are led to believe - they are showing an interest. Flynn is right in that they have not made contact but does that stop them showing an interest. Moves could be made on this front in the next 48 hours - it is now down to the two respective managers to convince James who he would prefer to ply his trade with.

There have also been whisperings that other players are unhappy with the current terms offered. Marc Richards is said to be one. The question is what are players like Richards, Freestone and O'Leary being offered and is it realistic for the standard of player? The money that was banded in football 2 years ago has long gone and certainly the contracts that McClure handed out which have more of a place in Cloud Cuckoo Land. However, they still have a price. Even a Swansea footballer can expect to earn a very decent wage for this area but are other clubs in similar positions prepared to pay more? That is probably what it boils down to - can they get a better offer elsewhere. It's a dangerous game and one that some of them cannot afford to play but at the same time you don't know what the jungle drum is beating around the player circuit at the moment?

I have a feeling that we are going to be fed some bad news soon on the player front. Sure we will hear of players that have signed contracts to play next season but I think we will also see names depart that were on the 'want to keep' list. What we have to wonder as fans is whether the players leaving will be the ones that we never wanted to see stay anyway. Somehow, I suspect that maybe not all of them will be.

I am in agreement that this club should not be held to ransom and if they can get more money elsewhere then good luck to them. But we should not allow the club to end up played off against another for personal gain. We've been there, we've done that and it resulted eventually in a Petty Out T-Shirt.

There are interesting times ahead and I would expect to be sat here in a week's time with the future of some of the players dusted. One thing puzzles me though - if I want someone to come and work for me they come to see me - why should players be any different? But that is a side issue.

Meanwhile, Flynn's latest transfer target is rumoured in the Cardiff media to be Wrexham goalkeeper Kristian Rogers. Flynn supposedly sees Rogers as ideal cover for Roger (that could get confusing!). Rogers, 22, played 7 games for the Robins last season and has appeared a total of 45 times for them as well as once on loan for Rushden in 2000/2001. In his 7 appearances he conceded 7 goals and he did appear 3 times in Wrexham's superb finish to the season.

Whether Rogers ends up as cover next season remains to be seen.

Only time will tell folks...........

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