Thetownend.com

https://widthofapost.com/2019/11/17/the-eoin-doyle-dilemma/

Decent synopsis, what it doesn't take into account is the player. Will he want to stay at a club where he is playing some of his best ever football, or go back to a side that will probably play him in goal?

If Bradford want him back, surely Doyle wont have any choice in the matter as he is their player.

I expect Bradford will recall Doyle on Jan 1st but he doesn’t want to be there and they don’t really want him. So we will need to buy him.

Doyle would be better off seeing out his contract at Bradford. At the end of it he would go on a free and command a decent signing on fee.

No doubt Wellens wants him to stay and so does Doyle himself.

Bradford have a choice. They can make a few quid selling him to us plus getting rid of his entire salary or they can recall him - which will cost a fair bit to keep them under the wage cap plus there’s no guarantee he’ll score for them. They’ll need to change their style which, tbf, has got them high up the league. It’s a big risk in disrupting that.

Gut says we will agree to keep him. If he does go back we’ll get a replacement plus Yates.

No bother.

if Bradford want him back for whatever reason, they will have to find the money as the article says. Seems three options for that one of which could disappear this week with Shrewsbury dumping them out of the cup. Of course, we could do ourselves a massive financial favour by beating Cheltenham tomorrow. PV at home in round two is very winnable, round three beckons and a potential money spinner.

If we had a player out on loan, in the same division - who was the divisions top scorer I’d expect the club to recall him & do their best to get him banging the goals in for us...

But they’ve tried that and it didn’t work.

As Wellens said in his Salford interview ‘He only scores for me’

If they were struggling in the league I’d agree about recalling him. But they’d have to change the way they play to get him scoring - and that’s if he hasn’t thrown a strop about being recalled.

Bradford played him as a number 10 behind the strikers and as we have seen that's not how we utilise him. Unless they (have) change(d) the way they play, he's going to be equally as ineffective for them.

Bradford could I suppose sell him to a team in Scotland (for example) for a small fee, that's really the only other option they have as he can't play for another English team this season.

I mean this is all based on hearsay and guess work, but we are paying the lions share of Doyles wages and it seems the noise from Bradford is that they can't really afford to take him back.

If he does go back, that essentially stifles them strengthening. They clearly don't know how to utilise him, nor do their strikers get the service any striker does here (judging by how few goals their strikers have scored)... So he might get a few goals for them, but likelihood is he'll sit on the bench and they won't get any stronger... However, with us (hopefully, but looking likely) being in and around the top 3 - we will have a pretty decent wedge to bring a few players in and strengthen. We need to bring in a striker anyway, and with the service any striker would get from our midfield, we'd be an attractive club to sign for (haven't said that in a while!)

Let's face it - Doyle won't continue this run and will go on a barren streak at some point, he isn't gonna score 40+ goals this season. I would rather he stayed (and all signs point to him absolutely loving it here) so that would be the ideal scenario but I don't think it's the end of the world. Goalscorers are hard to come by and we'd miss his goals but despite what Bradford fans think, we're a very good side even without him.

He’d have to agree a move to the sweaties- he’d have no choice if Bradford recall him.

That's a FIFA rule, not an FA on. He can't play for anyone else.

Ah ok - I stand corrected thanks. :)

me too, thought it was League rules.

so that's good news

On the salford match thread someone mentioned the fact that they knew we were signing him for £100K. (not trawling through)
I have been steadily reading the bantams fan page for the last couple of weeks and they too have an "in the know" and assures them Doyle will be returning.
So which one lies like a beach front Rolex?

Do others read between the lines of this Bowyer statement

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18044760.bradford-city-doyle-talk-can-wait-says-busy-bowyer/

I don't think we can read anything into that.

Again just looked at the bantams page, one poster thinks without a cup run they can't afford him back.
Fingers crossed Shrewsbury do us a favour tonight.

I don't fully understand FFP and the age cap in L2, but surely it's not month to month, i.e. a cup run in January means you can spend more on wages in February?

A cursory look around this forum should be enough to convince you to take precisely no notice whatsoever of anything posted on fans' sites. We all talk a load of old shite

No but it would mean extra income beyond what you'd initially budgeted for (unless you've been silly and budgeted for getting into round 3 by default) so would mean you could spend more knowing that you wouldn't go over the overall limit by the end of the season

I totally get that PaulD, tongue in cheek comments as my previous posts proves, we are signing him 100%but he is also returning 100%.
I would like to think there are negotiations going on between the 2 owners and Bowyer isn't involved, unless he is signing and they don't want to release that to avoid the fans frustration.
FWIW I think we need Doyle, yes we play just as well without him, but we don't score anywhere near enough as when he is playing.

Shall we open up an argument about needing a 20+ goalscorer for promotion? Surely that argument doesn't have too many miles on it thus far?..

Pele will want a contract for 2.5 years - assurance that not many lower league pros get at his stage.

We’re likely to be better placed, maybe, than Bradford, not because of our budget (they will surely have more based on gates) but due to the fact he’s on a roll. But from a professional perspective, being on a roll means you’ll feel entitled to a good wage. He surely won’t “reward” his good form with a pay cut to come here.

If we can shift McGlashan, Diagouraga and maybe some others, then perhaps it is go. I suspect he’ll get pulled by them in early Jan, and we’ll spend January trying to sort a deal out.

Total bollocks and you knows it.

Power and Wellens obviously view this forum, they noted the sage advice that we would never get promoted without an experienced right back, and promptly went out and signed Caddis.

One of their fans in their Doyle thread has just done a massive post about how without Doyle we wouldn't be top....

Pretty sure you take the leading goal scorer from any team and remove his goals their league position changes. They really are working themselves up into a frenzy over there. And they are getting quite sensational about their predictions, its actually hilarious.

We just need to let the chips lay as they fall, he wants to be here and doesn't want to be at bradford, he has stated that and both clubs know that. It's up to the powers that be to get a deal done and make him a Swindon player.

If that doesn't work then we go again and find another striker that can use the service we provide and I am sure we can find one.

If you take things at face value off things like Twitter where Doyle only mentions playing for Swindon in his bio then it suggests he has no affinity to Bradford at all now. I’d imagine he’ll do all he can to try and facilitate a season long stay here and I’m sure he knows their fans would be at him if he didn’t score for a few games. I’m not really worried at the moment.

My favourite so far is for them to sell Doyle to another club in January and then get that club to loan him back to them!

They’ll be a long queue for that one! They still think he can play outside of England.

Tbf, they have got a couple of expensive donkeys up front with Vaughan and Donaldson - Yates has score more than them combined.

I suppose they do realise that if Doyle returns we will still score goals. I very much doubt Doyle will continue his goal a game ratio.

In some ways I wouldn’t mind him returning, underperforming, messing up their promotion bid and us still going up.

Sounds lik Bantams fans are still not interested in welcoming him back,  hope that the board view it the same way,

posts on their forum -

If he is costing us a sizeable sum, for arguments sake £3-4,000 a week, then given that his contract is likely to run for a further 26 weeks from 1st January 2020, a ‘free’ transfer to Swindon, the only other British club he can play for until his contract expires, would save us £78,000- 102,000 in wages. The money which would be ‘freed up’ could then be put towards another player or players. Strengthen the squad for the promotion push. That IMHO is very sound business . 


Since Doyle has left, City have increased their attacking output following the arrivals of Connolly, Cooke, and the return to fitness of Ismael, and increased our xG output from an average of 0.48 per game to 1.50 per game. We've netted 24 in 16 with an xG total of 24.01. This is despite the fact our two main strikers have underperformed based on the stats.....

All budgets are done assuming Round 1 exit. You said no but the FFP website says different:


Things which will help us get Doyle, a win tonight, a bradford loss tonight. What would also be interesting is how much a transfer ban would effect Bradford at the end of January. Who cares if they can't sign anyone during the season. This can also be helped with owner cash injection.

We need to look to the long term as well as to the immediate future.
I’m not sure I would offer Doyle 2.5 years - he is 31 now and although he is scoring heavily in League 2, if we are in League 1 will he score as freely, and will his pace / effectiveness dwindle by next season or the season after next?
We saw last year with Brown relying on Taylor and Richards the fallibility of a plan which relies too heavily on senior players (admittedly both of those were closer to 35 ) - they are unlikely to be good for 35-40 games starting, as their fitness and effectiveness declines.
It comes down to whether we think his “hot streak” will continue beyond January, if so for how long, and whether we could sell on this time next year if he isn’t up to league 1, and also on what alternatives are available.  We can see this year with Diagoraga and McGlashan the problem of big earners not playing and how it limits our ability to strengthen.

The argument I liked best was that agent Doyle can effectively help Swindon take points off every other team in the league except Bradford. So he's helping them more, and at far lower cost, than he would sitting unused on their books. Us doing well (for the time being) is the cost of that arrangement. They might yet be grateful to him for nicking points off other rivals as the season end draws closer.

Sort of see your point.  But I'd be more concerned if he was 33 or 34.  At 31, I'm sure he has a few more good seasons in him left - even if we make it in to League 1.

I can remember when I also thought that 31 was old.  Those days are long gone.

Doyle playing for Bradford against Swindon in early January is officially on......

All the emojis

 8) :( :zzz: :hmmm: :headhurts:

Don't temp fate !!.

Bradford City aren't idiots, no deal will be agreed before that game.

However, they might not want to risk him in what could be a very important game for both sides. Doyle might also not be in the right mindset to play etc.

Just spoke to my Bradford supporting workmate, he mentioned "concentrate on the league" to me  :). I need to ask him whether he thinks Bradford will recall him.

I will put money on Doyle coming on in that game and two things happening

1) he gets booed
2) he scores

And called a judas, dont forget!

Am I missing something, as they went out the cup yesterday as well they are going to struggle to fit him in for FFP reasons, wasn't their main hope that a cup run would bring the cash in?

If Town were serious about lining up a bid, I wonder if we might offer a certain amount should the transfer be completed before Jan 4th, and a lower amount should it not. Try to twist their arm a little...


Yes, but there's always the risk they might find another way to solve the problem (e.g. offload any deadwood)

think you'll find they are already trying to do that with pretty much the same result as we are getting with our deadwood.

We should do a swap then. We have a good track record with their "deadwood" :)

According to the bradford forum by loaning us Doyle, and allowing us to potentially signing him, they are giving us their promotion slot....

I love how they think it's theirs and they should be pissing up this league. If they were too good for league 2 then they wouldn't have dropped down, and if they were supposed to be pissing the league they would be up there with us not sitting at the bottom of the playoff places.

LIke i said a while ago, they are currently going through what we have been through and once they realise they are in league 2 for a reason (a footballing reason) then they might actually get somewhere.

Its still too early to be smug towards Bradford though. The majority of the season remains + a transfer window, anything could happen. We've seen how a short good run of form can easily propel you to the top.

And it's not just them either. Plymouth fans are the same, if not worse with the god given right to promotion. We were pretty much the same ourselves when we came down.

Absolutely on all counts.

Although many of our fans (not so much on here now) still think we should be "pissing this league" their words never mine.

We are in this league for a reason, and so are they.

I could be wrong but aren’t they making their assumptions based on their current team/form/position plus Doyle’s current haul of goals?

Just for example - Bradford have drawn 4 games. If Doyle had scored one in each of those games Bradford would be 8 points better off and top.

Doing the reverse calculations for us we’d be 9th

...and that’s only taking into account Doyle scoring 4 winners.


I’ve not read their forum but I’d imagine that’s how they’ve calculated their ‘promotion place’ which they’ve ‘given’ us rather than anything else.


I’m sure at some point over the last 5 years you, I and most Town fans have gone ‘....well if we hadn’t of sold Matt Ritchie’

Of course we have much of the season to go and whilst I am enjoying this run of form and the heady heights of top spot I am realistic in that it may not last forever.

I have seen this season more of the fans on here accept that we are in fact now a league 2 club and that seems to have really helps the mentality in the stadium and the conversations on here.

I disagree with a lot of the above. No one should accept us being league 2, we should always drive forward and get out of this shit league.

league 2 is a low point in our history. I'm not settling for that and the moment the club does we can welcome mideiocrity.

I'm not against any club thinking they are too big for this league. Bradford and Plymouth are.

Yes we are here because we got relegated and have messed up going up. it's our own fault and it needs fixing.

and yes if we hadn't have sold Matt Ritchie... :beers:

Out of interest, how are we 'too big' to be in League 2?

Accepting that it's where we currently lie doesn't mean we're ok with it?

I'm not ok with it, I want us to push onwards and upwards, but I am accepting of the fact that it's where we are and we need to put in the work to get out of it..

I don;t think there is anything wrong with looking at the club, as it exists today, and suggesting it's resources should result in League One as a natural bedfellow.  Any season above that level is to be cherished and anything below that level to be irritated by.  That's not saying our team deserves to be any higher than it is at any point, just that we should be capable of putting together a squad that can compete in L1.

Absolutely.

and grass is green. of course we have to accept it. we are league 2 club- fact. but a club like ours will always expect to be higher.

 I don't want to get like city fans with what is deserved and factors into what makes a big club etc BUT history, success, attendances and even our stadium puts us above the majority in our league.

we are here on merit. but we are a big league 2 club no doubt about it.

I'm liking the attitude of the club, part of the reason I'm back attending. Done more games this season than the previous 5 seasons. Whatever league we're in, if the club are up for it then so am I. Plus, I like the beer and company  :)

75 pages and still they rumble on.     No one knows, roll on Jan 4th when he turns out in a STFC Shirt.

Not sure if this has been posted on here before but here is a little insight to the Wellens /Doyle love affair from their time at Oldham. For the record, I think this worked on that occasion but he then got ill and missed most of the rest of the season.

https://twitter.com/officialoafc/status/945232240606437376?s=12

Ha ha, that's brilliantly gay. Never seen Wellens that light-hearted!

That's great, wasn't he only on loan at Oldham until January anyway?

Would be awesome if they replicated something similar here, for Christmas  :)

Also shows those two have a very good working relationship or they wouldn't have been game for a laugh like that.

He was in the same situation as the current state of play but Oldham were able to extend to the end of the season...

Spell #1 (Aug-Jan) 12 goals in 17 league appearances.
Spell #2 (Jan-May) 2 goals in 13 league appearances.

I had to read that twice, I thought it was "Batmans view on the Doyle situation"

Watching that has given me a (maybe false) sense of optimism that we might just sign him up.

Not the only factor of course but having a good working relationship with your boss, in any job is a big factor in wanting to stay in the same place. Especially with a high likely reward of guaranteed success on the horizon.

I'd love to know his opinion, to be fair.

Agree 100%,    Can't see as he would want to return after the way he was treated,   Suppose at the end of the day it all comes down to who has the final say,  and I assume that is going to be the club,   hopefully they won't have the resources to be able to recall.

So, we knows he’s rubbish after January. So no loss...

Dodging a bullet if he goes.

Bradford are lose lose on this. If he stays, that's probably one less promotion spot for them to aim at. If he goes back, there is no way he'll keep scoring like he has here. They screw their budget, and weaken the rest of their side. The meltdown would be worth it.

Interviewer: 'Will Bradford take Doyle back Batman?'
Batman: 'Na-na-na-na, Na-na-na-na, Na-na-na-na, Na-na-na-na.....'
Interviewer: 'Batman?'

Swindon reject, Swindon reject wooooah, woooooah

Doyle atm is in Harry Morris country, can he keep that going foir a whole season? Unlikely, so we get a fresh approach for the 2nd half of season, and lob a grenade into Bradford's season

Yeah,   literally if we don't get Doyle.

budgets can be broken with owner investment. power hasn't been within budget for years now- always extending it.

Wellens blowing more smoke out of his arse?

https://mobile.twitter.com/TotalSportSwin/status/1204748679883743234?s=19

That boo bloke posted a tweet saying he is going back to Bradford and wellens must stop him

Wellens can't stop it, though, so it would make no sense. Unless Doyle would be leaving by choice which I very much doubt.

I took it that he (Boo) was just playing around with the gif he posted. Hope so.

Christ !!,   its more exciting on their website than it is on here at the moment.   Their fans are going into meltdown,   81 pages of arguments and assumptions,   this case is going to run and run,  just hope it concludes in our favour and the 'major injury' is just a Wellens smokescreen.

I took it as just a joke gif - i certainly don't think it was based on anything he heard

Same here...

hmmm got a cash-in on a fiver for Doyle at top scorer at 8-1 for 32 quid -
hold or fold?

Defo hold - even is he does go back, is anyone else in the league going beyond 18? Maybe Yates I guess.

This^^

Aren't we talking about playing fast and loose with £8 here?

I suppose so, let it run

What is the next line after ‘I just don’t think you understand’ in the Ginger Pele song?

90% people (including me) go quiet on that line!

‘He’s Richie Wellens’ man’

Ta... what about the line after that?

He’s better than Zidane

🙌

From the Yabber comments

‘More good news, had the chance to have a brief chat with Richie and he's hopeful the holy trinity loanees will all stay and hopefully become perms. 80% ED, 100% JY & AG. JY looks a cert as I chatted with his mum ( Jerry's younger brother one of the other mascots ;o) not happy at Rotherham with their hoofball not suiting his game.’

If we get all three on a perm in January i'll get Audrey tattooed on my arse :)

Be careful! I’ve fallen into that trap!

I’ll be amazed if Doyle stays here.

If the shoe were on the other foot I’d want & expect STFC to do everything possible to get the leagues top scorer back and firing.

Perhaps there is an option to buy in January window, perhaps this is why both clubs are reluctant to speak about the terms in the loan.

As DV says above, Bradford would be mad not to recall him and try and get him firing for them

It seems fairly straightforward to me. If he can be recalled, he will be.

Bradford selling Doyle to Swindon might appease their fans but it would depend if Power is prepared to pay a fee for a 31 coming up 32 year old player on a free in the summer and what wages we will offer.

Bradford may be happy to have him off their wage bill and a bit more on top to give them some spending power. That would suggest a nominal fee as Swindon are the only buyers before Doyle's contract expires. Maybe Bradford add a promotion bonus to any fee.

If you're Doyle's agent then you probably tell him to sit tight and keep on scoring. There would be plenty of League One clubs interested in the summer regardless of whether he stays at Swindon or goes back to Bradford in January.

If will depend what sort of contract we are prepared to offer and when. If it's now then we would have to be close to Doyle's current deal but for a 2.5 year deal to say age 34 he may need to drop his wages a bit.

Power may have preferred to have waited until the summer and see what league we are in and sign him on a free. If Doyle got a better offer elsewhere in the summer then you can argue 'we can't compete with X'.

I guess it comes down to gambling now for a bit more outlay and a better chance of promotion or risking missing out and another season in League 2. That's the conundrum clubs at this level face.

Of course this is Swindon and if anything can go wrong with a promotion season it will go wrong....



Sent from my SM-G960F

It would require a seismic change from Power to sign up Doyle for a fee and a new contract.  There's no evidence from history that he'll do such a thing.... he chucked away Div 3 status by trying to keep us upon the cheap, and in the 2 subsequent years hasn't done enough to get us back up.  The best hope is that Doyle sees out his loan, because Bradford figure having a disaffected player around the place would outweigh the bad publicity of their player ripping up Div 4

Including, I hope,  Swindon.

disagree with both. power signing older, experienced players is nothing new in the last couple of years. the youth model gas clearly been postponed to get put this league.

doyle is an experienced pro, I'm sure he would like to stay at town but him being disaffected if he returns is an assumption and he doesnt seem the type not to put the effort in. om the other hand with every goal he scores it puts them under pressure.

nationally his form is very under the radar and I'm surprised. 9 in a row and one of the best records in europe

Oh right I must have missed Power spending a fee on experienced players recently then.... silly me.  Out of interest who were they  :hmmm:

As well you know he never said spend.

As you know.... Moonraker mentioned the need for a fee to get Doyle,to which I agreed, pointing out this wasn't usually Power's method.  Unfortunately although it is possible to get decent players without breaking the bank, sometimes there will be a cost, in agent's fees, wages and even a transfer fee. That is a spend.

We've had about 6 years of Power we know how he operates.

January will be the big test of Power's leadership of the Club.

The main priority should be getting Wellens signed on again and with a big release clause.

I doubt we would have to pay Bradford much for Doyle - maybe cover their outlay in wages whilst he has been with us - because he will leave for free in the summer and doesn't want to be there.

Will Power be prepared to pay the best part of £650,000 over 2.5 years in wages on Doyle? You'd hope so because under Wellens there is no reason to think he won't score 20+ a season in League 1 too. Whilst he would be 34 at the end of that contract, his game and fitness level are likely to hold up over that time as best as anyone can guess.

Get the manager signed on and Doyle, add Yates and Grant - it's a big ask - but you then have the core of a squad that could go bang bang. With the exception of a box-to-box midfielder and a out-and-out centre half, there's nothing Wycombe's squad has that we don't (or couldn't add on top in the summer) and they are miles clear in L1

Keep it all together and add a bit more and Power could be Chairman of a Champ club in 1.5-2.5 years. Let's hope he sees that and is prepared to back it and find out

Didn't Power pay somewhere in the region of £350,000 for Kaiyne Woolery? Whilst I understand that he didn't have the experience that Doyle has, surely it shows that he's willing to pay a fee if it feels right?

Unless I've made that up, in which case ignore me and carry on as you were.

Wouldn't be surprised if there's a pre agreed fee in place for an option to buy, something nominal like £50k or £100k and that's why the clubs are staying quiet.

You've argued against your own definition of spend. As you say its multiple things that go into signing a player.

One example for you, we signed toumani on a 2 year contract aged 30+. that would have been signing on fee and apparently good wages. this wasnt previously powers method but has been the last couple of years as it's what flitcroft and brown wanted

*robertson, mcglashan, rose, richards, lancashire, purkiss, taylor, hussey. all players that power has paid signing on fees to and are against the typical power signing of youth with potential for future transfer fees. everyone says experience costs more.

Reg - one way or another, Doyle will be here for the rest of the season at least - This is shit or bust time for Power, we've not been in this position under him before. He's got too much invested to let him go. I personally believe we will sign him permanently...we shall see...

This is shit or bust time for Power, we've not been in this position under him before. He's got too much invested...

Something I have been consistently saying for a while now.

Somebody on the Bradford forum made a good point.

If Bowyer does recall Doyle but he can't get Doyle scoring, Bowyer's going to look a right cunt. Something he may not be willing to risk.

Same here mate...we're on the same page  ;)

I’d say you’d look like more of a cunt leaving the divisions top scorer out on loan at a promotion rival.
Even if Bowyer does recall him & makes him train with the under 7s and he never makes the Bradford squad again - that still more beneficial to them than having him scoring for us every week

I want to see him playing for us on Jan 4th against Bradford at the CG.

I want to see him bang another 1 in.

I want scenes!

If we do a deal to sign Doyle then it may be the classic 'undisclosed fee' just to keep it quiet amongst the Bradford supporters.

Doyle has almost been too successful in this half of the season. If he had only got half a dozen goals now and then clicked after January the debate wouldn't be taking place.

Sent from my SM-G960F

A League 2 side paying a bloke £125k to train with the youths, whilst the first team are only in the playoffs 🤣

You're missing the key point of the whole issue here DV... i.e Why did Bradford loan him out in the first place? Because they wanted to free up the wage bill to get 2/3 other players in (there is an article somewhere on here from the local rag from August confirming this). It would cost them a hell of a lot of money to recall him just to 'fuck us over' (not to mention the player)...The situation is not as cut and dried as you are suggesting.

Yeah, I get all that and raised the point about wages months ago even before said article.

Like I said, if the roles were reversed we’d want the club to do everything to get the leagues top scorer back. I expect Bradford to make it happen one way or the other...

I think you’ve missed the point...

I think Swindon have a lot more to gain by 'making it happen' (i.e sign for us) than Bradford have just to possibly (possibly being the key word) scupper our chances of promotion.

Yes, we have more to gain.

It’s not about scuppering our chances though is it? It’s about increasing theirs. Obviously I know it does not work like for like but add Doyle’s goal haul here to Bradfords results and they’re probably top.

Even Bradford fans don’t think he’ll score goals for them the way Bowyer has set up their team. He’ll have to change their style completely - and all for a player who has stated he doesn’t even want to be there.

I'll plonk this in here:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ginger-pele-eoin-doyle-keen-to-stay-and-fire-swindons-promotion-bid-fjbz2sz6d?shareToken=2606964219623f88e0af56633d64e699

Good article.

The importance of these words cannot be underestimated...

"Bradford have more than good-enough strikers. If I was to go back in January, it wouldn’t be the same. It’s a different style of play, it doesn’t suit me or them. I hope I’m here for the season"

Let's hope that alone would see him stay,   think the financial situation at Bradford should confirm this,  can't see Bradford taking him back to sit on the bench,   think that would be foolish when they could cash in now.  Doyle would only walk away on a free at the end of the season anyway. Do the wise thing Bradford,  cash out now !!.

Just read this on the Bantams forum,   don't know how true it is but let's hope !!.  ---------------



I voted... Recall him and play him

BUT
1. BOWYER WON'T HAVE A CLUE HOW TO PLAY HIM.

2. DOYEL WON'T COME BACK, BECAUSE OF THE ABOVE.

3. CITY HAVE ALREADY SOLD HIM. (so I've read)

#1779Rcbantam, Today

They are certainly starting to dislike him   -----------


Cheeky begger ‘I don’t want to go back’

I’ve changed my mind, good riddance Doyle. Playing in front of crowds of 5000 for small clubs seems more your thing.

#1777Biker, Today at 8:28 PM

Winning the title is more his thing.

Also with 10 year Season Tickets available for "2 n 6", their attendance is massively skewed.

Have they forgotten what division they're in?  ;D
Was only a dozen years ago they were averaging 8k in league one :bye:

There is a really weird obsession that fans of Yorkshire fans have with attendances. Remember when Sheffield Wednesday were down here and their fans kept coming on here saying how many of them would be travelling down for the game, as if any of us really gave a shit.

Bradford fans seem to be similar and I know Leeds fans are also very quick to mention how many fans follow them around the country.

I personally couldn't care less about our attendance numbers, clearly it would be great if we could get as many fans through the turnstiles as more fans = more money but I'd happily win the league with an average attendance of 7k than scraping into the playoffs with an average attendance of 16k.

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/18108604.swindon-town-remain-locked-negotiations-keep-star-strikers-eoin-doyle-jerry-yates-season/

Wellens...“All the players that I have spoken to all want to stay, which is the main thing.”

 :hmmm:

https://twitter.com/STFCrumours/status/1207223251174412288?s=20

The other thing with Leeds is that they've got a load of artificial support all over the country, stretching back to when they were good in the 70s. That's now filtered into subsequent generations.

I know several people in Swindon who "support" Leeds without having any connection to the city. So the reason, for example, why they'll get 3,000 for a game here is that about half of them will have a shorter trip to the CG than our own fans.

Also, in terms of population, I think it's 3rd in the UK, ahead of places like Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow. Considering that there's only one club in the city, they're actually very badly supported.

"You're only here to see the town"  :)

Matthew Walker is the biggest cockwomblingthudercunt in the world, believe nothing he posts because he makes it all up.

Is it him behind that?

Check the supports group username.

(https://i.postimg.cc/2yc2wFKB/Untitled.png)

And he can't use apostrophes correctly. Although perhaps he means "Supporter" in the singular, i.e. just him which is quite feasible

Oh. I meant the 'ITK' account. Not that reply to it.

But yeah. walker is somewhat of a bellend.

Uneducated, bitter, immature megalomaniac doesn't even get close to describing him.

Ah sorry I don't know about the ITK account but he is probably behind it. Using his own Twitter to appear to verify his own lies.

Except to get away tickets at Leeds isnt easy. They go to members first, gold iirc then silver. No point paying for a gold membership on the odd chance of getting an away ticket close to home.
Of course Leeds do have fan clubs up and down the country that travel to home games as well where tickets are sold under the same criteria

Oh !!, you don't like him then ??.

No, not when he threatened me with physical violence because I disagreed with him over how big a team Swindon actually were vs how he thought they were. And I am not the only one he has done that to.

The guy on the Bantams forum posting about one of LP horsies, Griggy. Apparently has won back to back races (Fri & Today)...so, I had a check and Griggy has won but not really brought in any serious money.

His real winner is All Yours, who has won 3 in 7 and landed Power Geneva Ltd nearly £60k. This year alone power Geneva Ltd has achieved nearly £142k. Most success coming from 4yo+ on a/w (14 wins netting c£115k).

This of course is just prize money but if Power has had a flutter or two, could be reason to start tracking what his horses do with what happens at Town (not being 100% serious btw). Certainly gives an interest as to what is going on with LP outside of STFC.

I realise that they sell all their away tickets, but that’s because they’ve got such a massive range of people who want to buy them.

Take their Tuesday night game down here a few years ago, for example. Selling 3k+ tickets for a January night game certainly is impressive, but I can say for a fact that at least 8 of those fans live in Wootton Bassett. And the only reason why they got hold of tickets in the first place is because they went on general sale.

Ahhhhh,    fair enough then.

I’m sure it’s not the argument your trying to make, but it reads like your saying Leeds are poorly supported because they have numerous fans all over the country

Yeah I also read it this way.

I think the point was supposed to be that Leeds only seemingly ‘travel’ in numbers because they have supporters everywhere.

Rather than Leeds away support being the same hardcore x amount who go to every away game.


Which, is quite frankly rubbish. Leeds are a well supported club with a huge number of die hards who travel the country.

Couldn't agree more.

However Leeds as a City alone has 500k people and only 1 football club in the City which clearly helps their numbers. Same with Bradford with 350k people. Sheffield has 520k people but 2 clubs so could be argued Wednesday and United are better supported, if you are the kind of person that bothers about things like these.

I don't, so I am not really sure why I spent 2 minutes of my life researching!

“It is a season-long loan. That’s what was indicated to me at the start of the season.

“I don’t want to go back, I want to be here. Hopefully that is the case come January and February.” - Eoin Doyle.

I know it's not up to Doyle, but you'd think most managers would be reluctant to recall any player that has unequivocally stated he does not want to return there.

Absolutely, I saw his interview on BBC breakfast this morning and he seems like he genuinely wants to be here and not go back, "Bradford didn't suit me and I don't suit Bradford" says it all really.

Don't think he'll go back there. Still worried they might sell him to someone else. We need to buy him in Jan

Would be strange insofar as he can't play for anyone else this season.

Not in England no, but they could sell him to a Scottish or overseas side. Not wildly likely as most buying clubs won't want a player who'd rather stay here, but let's just buy him and rule out the ifs and buts

Off on a bit of a tangent, but I was talking to some of my missus's family from Keighley the other week, I had always assumed that Keighley being West Yorkshire would be a strongly Bradford/Leeds supporting town, however apparently (and surprisingly) histoircally Burnley supporters prevail.

That's odd, not often you get crossover between the roses, other than via people moving etc.

I wonder if it's anything to do with Rugby League.... Keighley Cougars don't like Bulls and probably not too keen on Rhinos.

Keighley-Worth railway is worth an hour or two of anybody's time...

(https://kwvr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/5820-1602261-PLa-286x259.jpg)

I know it shocked me, however Burnley is nearer Keighley than you think, always shocks me when I go to Burnley and there are road signs to Keighley.


Coincidentally the uncle I was talking to used to play for Keighley (not Cougars in them days) and always brings me the KWVR magazine as he prints it for them. He also rather bucks the trend as he follows Bradford!

I dont think Scotland would work?


so we would need to leave the UK and find a league starting in winter. I'd say it's quite remote!

Waterford  ;)

There is, of course, one big flaw in this overseas transfer bollocks

He doesn’t want to go anywhere

Ah my bad. Talking shite as usual :) Let's just buy him, then it doesn't matter

Now there's a team name that probably gets greeted with a lot more sniggers these days to when they were originally named. Do they have a large element of teenage boys in their fanbase?

Yep, I've also got a friend who's proudly Yorkshire and Burnley. Always feels a bit odd, but then I remember that we've got all of Oxfordshire's best fans.

Based in Wiltshire it amazes me how many fans support - and go to - Southampton and Bristol.
We are the ONLY club in Wiltshire,  why would you want to travel to a rival county ?.

Choose your answer(s):
a) Our lack of success over the last 25 years
b) The validation fragile souls need from association with a football team's (relative) success
c) The increase in people's budget and time for their leisure pursuits
c) Swindon's unfortunate location on the northern edge of the county
d) The number of recent immigrants to the county with roots outside Wiltshire
e) The perception in a rural county that football is for urban louts
f) The club's lack of community outreach over the years

Another reason would probably be family loyalties. I've never lived in Wiltshire and in effect should support Berkshires only league club...

Do we have rival counties, does it matter that much to people. Probably wrong person to ask as whilst I am Oxfordshire born and bred, neither of my parents were from Oxon (Mum Gloucestershire and old man Swindon), plus I have lived all over the place so probably don't really have geographical roots anywhere and have bugger all allegiance to Oxfordshire.

Amusingly Mrs Horlock07 is Yorkshire born and bred (and very proud) yet when our little un arrived we were living in Lancashire so she is a Lancashire lass!



Don't you bloody start on that!  ;)

It's been pointed out many times that towards the south of the county from about Pewsey down, you're into Soton country, Salisbury Plain is pretty empty, and something of a travel obstacle.  It's always been that way.  Going west Devizes is about the edge of Town territory.... Trowbridge questionable.

Goiing back into the 60's, community links into the natural STFC hinterland of Berkshire and SE Gloucestershire were enhanced by the club playing cricket matches in the summer v local pub/club sides.  I used to play for STFC, which was scary for a young lad.

As a lad I went to school in Chippenham, lived in Corsham. Chippenham was entirely STFC, Corsham was mostly but with a smattering of City.

When I lived in Salisbury I didn’t know of any Town fans - almost all Southampton. There is no correlation between county and club supported IMO.

Goiing back into the 60's, community links into the natural STFC hinterland of Berkshire and SE Gloucestershire were enhanced by the club playing cricket matches in the summer v local pub/club sides.  I used to play for STFC, which was scary for a young lad.
[/quote]

We also used to do a full round of pre season friendlies in the late 80s early 90s at the local clubs. I can remember regular games at Ciren Town, Malmesbury Vics, Fairford and Wootton Bassett even outposts like Sherston.

We do get in the usual pre season with Supermarine but it seems the other local clubs get shared out a bit more on a rotation.

I guess due to pre-season tours abroad, quality of non league pitches and remembering not to kick lumps out of Swindon players.

Irrespective of county loyalties Southampton is only 23 miles from Salisbury where as Swindon is 40 miles and to a neutral a much bigger club and proposition 

Anyway...Bantams view on Doyle situation :)

I wouldn't say were that much bigger than Southampton

I grew up in Faringdon which is in Oxfordshire but it's entirely Swindon fans not the yellow piss down the road

Must've changed since I was at Faringdon School as there were a few Pox fans there (ok it was the 80's)

Exactly...can all this shit be moved to a separate thread...?

I went to Faringdon school in the 80's and the only pox fans were from Southmoor, none from Faringdon

Faringdon had been in Berkshire for a thousand years until 1974. Were you born there?

We ran a coach from Faringdon to Mansfield in 86. If you were a Faringdon lad you would have been on the coach. It was full of lads

LADDSS! Fackin' Lads!

I'm too pissed to fix it now.

Maybe another admin will in the meantime...

You bunch of cunts.

Drink more, you'll sober up quicker...

I lived in Fernham. Far too posh to go with you Faringdon types.

You know Slice then.

Nice insight into the Ginger Pele

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/football-is-beyond-ruthless-so-you-have-to-be-ruthless-yourself-38805050.html

Interesting article.

Only trains Tuesday, Wed, Fri (is Thursday the day off? Thought Wednesday typically was.) Obviously not having a negative impact.

Honest enough to admit money is important - so I suspect keeping him next season (if we manage to keep him beyond Jan) will be difficult. Living in Liverpool may  be a factor in his next move.

He comes across very well.

Liverpool!?
Never knew that.
Similar situation to Wellens.

This is where the input of Power is key in convincing both that the progress of STFC is a "project" in the medium to long term at least.

I hate articles that you have to register to read.

Me too. Would someone with more patience care to copy and paste it here?

Lazy twats

Eoin Doyle is the top scorer in English league football this season, but this interview isn't really about that. There's much more to the 31-year-old than the story of his 19 goals in 18 league games since his loan move from Bradford to League Two rivals Swindon Town.
In his mind, it's never about the here and now. It's always about what might be coming next. Life experience has conditioned him to think that way.

Here are the facts that truly open a window to the existence of the Dubliner, a player admired by fellow Irish professionals because of the career he has carved out for himself.

He left school early to qualify as an electrician but the recession put him out of work and forced him to try and earn a wage in the League of Ireland.

He says the turning point was meeting a journeyman from Scotland who weighed his food and then studying a picture in 'Men's Health' magazine.

He's moved so many times on transfer deadline day that he's got a fixed routine of filling a tank of petrol and packing a bag in the morning just in case.

He endures a three-hour commute to training on his own, rather than participating in a car pool, because it allows him to listen to self-help podcasts and entrepreneurial ideas.

He's a father of three children who panics about contracts and the retirement age in his profession because of the pressure to provide.

He's a partner in a childcare company, having previously lost money in stocks and shares and an unsuccessful window-cleaning business.

He has always wanted to make money in any way, shape or form. The last line is a direct quote from his wife Ciara.

"He'll admit that," she adds, sitting at the kitchen table of their house on the outskirts of Liverpool. Her husband nods in agreement.

"It won't read well," he concedes, "But that's the reality of it."

In a cut-throat industry, being honest with yourself is half the battle.

If there's a trip that offers perspective on Doyle's journey, then it's the drive he made to Sligo two days before Christmas in 2011. He was 23.

A day previously, he'd penned an 18-month contract with Scottish Premier League side Hibernian. This was the closest thing to security that he'd ever truly known.

In the course of his two-and-a-half seasons at Sligo Rovers, which remains his longest stint as a first-teamer at any club, he made friends for life. But the purpose of this commute was to collect his final dole package. "Double bubble, isn't it?", he says, citing the colloquial expression for the December payment.

Doyle was on a 40-week deal, which remains the norm for the vast majority of League of Ireland players, and that means signing on in the local social welfare office when the contract ends.

He'd worked hard to even reach that stage; the idea of a full-time career in football seemed distant in his teens as the prodigies of his generation went overseas while he left school to learn a trade as an electrician, even taking a break from the sport along the way, before signing a part-time contract with Shamrock Rovers under Pat Scully.

"In my last year as a spark, work dried up," Doyle explains. "There would be three of us going around having a laugh doing a Tesco Express or an attic conversion but when the recession hit then that was the end of that. I was able to concentrate on football.

"I was getting my 100 quid expenses a week and just going for it. I'd run up to the Maldron Hotel (in Tallaght) from the gaff in Firhouse, go to the gym, run home, shower, and then train in the evening."

But frustration over a lack of opportunities under Scully's replacement Michael O'Neill led to a move west to Sligo, an environment that is very social for outside players brought in. Doyle jokes that his pal Aaron Greene was teetotal until he signed there.

A switch was flicked when veteran Scottish defender Jim Lauchlan arrived a year into his Sligo stay. "This 34-year-old comes into the dressing room and he's ripped," he enthuses. "He's talking about weighing his food and all of this. He didn't push it on anyone ,but he was basically saying 'this is what you need to do to look after yourself'."

At the end of a season which culminated with an FAI Cup win over his old club Rovers, Doyle was on the dole again. And once his couple of weeks of indulgence were out of the way, he set about doing what was necessary to get to the top League of Ireland wage bracket.

"I decided if I was going to make something out of this, it would have to be now because of my age," he continues.

A  copy of Men's Health magazine was purchased. "I opened a page where a fella was ripped and it showed his diet and I just copied it for eight weeks.

"I remember it was turkey mince, baked potatoes, chili con carne, brown rice, porridge with peanut butter, stuff like that which I'd never eaten before."

A 25-goal season under the watch of Paul Cook followed, and Pat Fenlon came calling to make an Irishman his first Hibs capture. The dole days were over.

*****

Fate works in mysterious ways. Ciara also grew up in Firhouse and was a school pal of her future husband's friends, yet they didn't meet until they hit 20.

"The Plaza. Sunday night. €2.50 a drink," Eoin grins.

Her father would have recognised him. Gerard Kelly is a Shamrock Rovers nut, and had high hopes that his second daughter would catch the bug.

"He was taking me to all these Rovers games, the Bohs matches, all of them," she recalls.

There was a game against UCD and he said to me 'Do you see him there? He goes to your school'. And I was like 'Dad, he doesn't.' And he said, 'No, he does. He comes from Firhouse, and he plays for Shamrock Rovers' and he's thinking this is the best thing ever. I was thinking 'You're talking sh**e Dad' but two years later I met Eoin and I had to tell him he was right."

This brought a new dimension to the first visit to the girlfriend's house. Ciara takes up the story.

"My best friend Steph had come over and she was trying to prep me for this first date in the house and my Dad nearly kicked the bedroom door in. He's in his full Rovers kit and scarf and he starts waving the flag around the bedroom. I was proper screaming at him.

"My brother had a drum and the two of them went marching around the house. I was mortified. I had to get my Mam to calm the situation. But he still made sure he opened the door in full Rovers kit."

"Jersey on and a scarf around his neck," Eoin confirms, chuckling again. "There was a flag hanging down too."

It's fair to say he was on a winner from the start, even if the economic climate presented challenges.

Ciara is a nurse and she moved to England for employment before he did. She relocated to Scotland, where she was pregnant with Danny when the decision was made to a sign a pre-contract agreement with League Two Chesterfield and a reunion with Cook.

A pal advised that the collapse of Rangers would negatively affect the Scottish market. Doyle speaks bluntly when he says that finances are the first factor in any decision. Packing up houses was the price to pay for those career choices. Danny had lived in five abodes and a hotel before his second birthday.

A prolific run at Chesterfield, influenced by another dietary change, secured a lucrative and life-changing transfer to Cardiff. After seven months in a Vincent Tan-run club, a story in itself, he went to Preston. Eventually, the couple decided a base was needed and Liverpool was identified.

Joey and Luca have since come along to swell the family contingent, and thus remove any wanderlust. They are asleep upstairs as this discussion takes place.

"It's Liverpool or Dublin now," says Doyle. "My agent hates me, he says we're landlocked."

Prospective employers have to work around that. Portsmouth didn't work out as a long-distance option, and subsequent stays at Oldham, Bradford and Swindon were dependent on managers knowing his preferences.

Swindon is more than three hours' drive away and when the option came up the manager Richie Wellens, his old boss at Oldham, presented a wary Ciara with a 50-day roster that would lay out the practicalities.

In a regular week, Doyle rises before 5am on a Tuesday, gets on the road so he's beyond Birmingham by 7am, and gets to Swindon for training. He stays Tuesday, makes the return journey after training on Wednesday, spends Thursdays at home and rises on Friday morning to travel again for another short stay built around a match on Saturday.

Clearly, it's not taking a toll on his performances. For Bradford, who let Doyle go after he operated out of position in the first three games of the season, it's somewhat embarrassing.

In the second week of January, they have the option to recall him but Doyle - who met with Bradford recently - is not keen on going back to the club that wanted him off the wage bill in August after dropping down from League One.

Bradford boss Gary Bowyer insists that he is keen on having him there; it's natural that he would prefer if a promotion rival didn't have the division's top striker.

"I want to play for Swindon for the rest of the season, that's exactly where I want to be," Doyle says, adding that the Robins are prepared to go the extra mile to do so.

It will be resolved in January. He's well aware of how the market works.

*****

Deadline day could be his Mastermind specialist subject. He's made five moves. Chesterfield to Cardiff was the most dramatic and the most significant because it put him into another paygrade. Championship wages convince mortgage brokers that the man on the other side of the table will have the means to honour a commitment.

The month before had been headspinning, with a host of clubs on the trail of League One's form player.

MLS newcomers New York City were the left-field option. "It would have been David Villa up front with Andrea Pirlo in behind," he says. Ciara points out she had the visas prepared.

There was more to the idea than his footballing prowess. "They wanted a ginger Irishman in New York," he says. "I would have been eating Lucky Charms coming off the plane."

The budgetary limitations of the centralised American system meant they could only offer a £200,000 fee. Chesterfield knew they could command four times that. Money always talks.

Doyle turned up for training in the morning knowing he was leaving, even if he didn't know where he was going. Cook knew it too and destroyed him in the video debrief from the previous match.

"I could see the smirk on his face as he's saying it because I wasn't going to be there the next day," Doyle laughs.

He was in the gym with a phone in his sock when his agent Eamonn Collins called. "He said: 'It looks like it's going to be Cardiff, will you take these wages?" and I said 'Yeah, damn right, I will.'

Doyle said his goodbyes. He'd filled up a full tank of petrol early that morning to save time, a routine that he now follows on moving day. A bag is packed with any essentials required; ID cards, a change of clothes, maybe some anti-inflammatories.

He was halfway down the motorway to Cardiff when Collins called to say West Brom had come in. This was Premier League.

Carlton Cole was at their training ground undergoing a medical and if that didn't work out then Doyle was Plan B. Keep the phone on, in other words.

"I was on the hard shoulder for half an hour waiting for a call. I rang Eamonn and he said 'I think you have to go to Cardiff and sign the deal because this call is not coming.'

Sky Sports caught him running across a car park which hinted at drama, but he was only going back to his vehicle to fetch his passport.

"That's how I found out," Ciara cuts in. "I was at home watching Sky Sports News and thinking 'Why is he running?'"

Other memories are fresher in the player's mind.

"In the room that night, Eamonn got a phone call. I know it was Tony Pulis (West Brom manager), but he's never told me since. I could see the disbelief, I must ask him. I have a feeling."

Cole's move had fallen through. Those are the sliding doors moments that happen when pressure is applied in the frantic final 24 hours.

Still, Doyle had no reason for regrets; this was a game-changer.

"It was huge for us, even though I was probably still going in as the lowest earner. You go into the car park and there's Maseratis in there," he said.

"We shared the training ground with the Cardiff Blues rugby side and they're obviously not getting paid as much as the footballers.

"You'd see them walking into the car park and there would be a bit of jealousy there. They're putting in 10-hour days in the gym and we're gone by noon!"

"I don't think I really understood how big it was," adds Ciara, who liked Cardiff and was unimpressed with the abrupt exit to Preston on the next deadline day - a loan that eventually became permanent.

There he was viewed as an option off the bench, and when he complained to Simon Grayson, he found himself in the stands. With a three-year deal on good money, agitating for a full-time exit when Alex Neil (the next boss) shared similar views made little sense. Instead, there were three deadline-day loan exits; once to Portsmouth and twice to Oldham.

Ten clubs were in the frame before the prospect of another Cook reunion pushed him to Portsmouth. Preston's preferred option was Bolton. This is how the window works. Doyle sat through meetings with managers he had no intention of signing for.

A boss of another club warned him off Bolton because he'd heard they were about to sign Adam le Fondre. Doyle had shared a dressing-room with 'Alfie' at Cardiff and picked up the phone to verify the story and find they were being played off against each other. He paints a vivid picture of organised chaos, of lies, white lies and half truths.

"Football is beyond ruthless," he asserts, "So you have to be ruthless yourself."

*****

There is humour in the transfer tales that masks a serious side. With the writing on the wall at Preston, Doyle was realistic enough to know he wouldn't be getting a Championship-level contract at his next club. He was overcome with worry in the summer before he signed for Bradford.

"I was thinking I need to sort out a few years here, that's my goal, I'm supporting five people," he explains. "There's panic stations every day over it because you retire so young in this game. That's the way my mind works."

"You're a worrier, aren't you?" Ciara says. "It sounds a bit naive but I've never thought he wouldn't be able to look after us. I've always believed in him."

Before Bradford, doubts had set in. Penning a two-year deal was a relief. "I was sick as a dog the day I signed, the stress hit me," he says.

"I could barely get through training. I said to the club, you need to put me in a hotel here. I was shivering and shaking and had to be driven to the game on the Saturday. That was the weight lifting off my shoulder, the relief."

He does encounter players with no vision for the future. "You feel a bit sorry for them, because they don't understand real life," he muses. "I think people like that need to hit rock bottom for the reality check.

"There are lads with kids who are still like that," Ciara adds.

The man of her house is constantly thinking about the end. Hence the desire to exercise his mind. All of his driving time is spent absorbing listening material.

He's got his fingers burned before. Noting the demand for window cleaners in Liverpool, he set up a mate with a similar venture in Dublin.

"I just couldn't get it going," he shrugs, "A different culture. I lost a few bob doing that."

Then there was the stocks and shares. "I didn't lose a fortune on it," he cautions. "I actually lost money trying to educate myself on it. There were online courses you pay for that go through scenarios, but I just didn't have the head for it."

For inspiration, he looked closer to home. The nursery where Danny went in Liverpool had its own app that updated parents on how their kid was faring during the day.

Doyle reckoned there was a gap in the market at home for a modernised childcare facility. Named after his grandmother, the 'Lily's' before and after-school service was born. His partner in this venture is his close friend and ex-Sligo team-mate Danny Ventre, a Scouser with kids of a similar age who bought into the thinking.

With an emphasis on healthy eating and activities, and a service which provides parents with information throughout the day, their base in Ballycullen now has kids from seven schools attending.

"We plan to have a few of them and really go for it," he stresses. "This is definitely for life after football."

His father John runs the community centre and looks after all the paperwork and presentations. Doyle has spent a lot of his days off accompanying his father to meetings where they have made pitches.

"My dad would lead it," he stresses, "but once you've been through the rituals of singing in front of a bunch of footballers, stuff like that is no problem."

He notes that his current dressingroom is in touch with the outside world.

Doyle got caught up in the Brexit debate, adding countless podcasts to his rota, and he's not alone.

"The first time I've ever, ever been in a situation in football where politics is actually an ongoing conversation," he says. "I was in Scotland for the independence referendum and that was barely talked about. This though...carnage.

"You'd come down for breakfast on the day of the match and there's 15 lads there thrashing it out. People talking about how they voted and what they believed in. The country is properly divided."

The 'Ginger Pele', as he's been christened by Swindon fans, thought better of a pre-election post outlining his preferences. Let's just say he wouldn't hold a popular opinion in a Tory town.

Brexit hit him in the pocket. Greg Cunningham, his former Preston team-mate, is a like-minded soul. They had a chat six weeks before the 2016 referendum.

"I was saying we should throw our money home," he recalls. "Greg said: 'Nah, it (Brexit) isn't going to happen and I said 'You're right, it won't' and looking back now it's like... ahhh. You're looking at the pound being worth €1.45 to €1.10 almost overnight."

He'd looked at 'forever homes' back in Ireland with Ciara, but they needed a 30 per cent deposit living abroad. Brexit scuppered that plan. Their wedding in Powerscourt also went 30 per cent over budget because of the exchange rate. "And I got carried away too," Ciara smiles.

They got through it, however, but will enter their own recurring version of the leave or remain debate when his contract expires in the summer. Doyle is more relaxed about his standing now; there will be offers.

He will enter any negotiations with his eyes open and his research done. When this footballer throws out the line about doing what's right for himself and his family, he really means it.

Fascinating (and very long!) article, gives a real insight into what he's all about - he's certainly got his head screwed on.

I don't know if this has already been posted but this is a Bradford journo's view on the Doyle situation which virtually echoes my view word for word. It's from a month ago but nothing has changed in the mean time...

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18051873.watch-simon-parker-gives-take-eoin-doyle-situation/

You're a posh Town fan then. I bet you can afford to drink in the Woodman as well   :pint:

Cheers for posting that Audrey. What a great article and a good insight into the man. He's really got his head screwed on, and it's clear that if we don't sign him in Jan, he won't stay for emotional reasons. Wellens is our trump card in holding onto him.

Haha, hated going in there as everyone knew who you were but I had no idea who they were. Mucking it in Highworth now.

anyone able to post the whole article as you need to login to view it

It's on the previous page(s)

There's a few Faringdon boys that now live in Highworth

Two of my boys go to school at Warneford.

You'll have to drink in the King and Queen now, slightly better than the Fishes was.

Faringdon folks who went to school there might be amused to hear that Mr Proffitt is now the head and Mr Sanderson was also still there last time I heard.

Andy Simpson is the caretaker there

Seriously lads....start another damn thread...

Yeah, still have one kid at Warneford (been in Highworth for 18 years now).

Was in the Saracens Head yesterday. Nice refurb.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Back to Bantams view on Doyle  :)

Jesus, their thread has hit 100 pages. We've managed 14, and half of that is crap about county boundaries!

Interesting in the Irish Independent Doyle has a connection with Pat Fenlon who took him to Hibs and Pat was DoF at Waterford.

Maybe if Power wants to sign Doyle permanently that he could offer him a couple of seasons with us and then maybe a role at Waterford if Doyle wanted to see out his playing days back home in Ireland.

I think that's at least partly because their club are in the driving seat re decision making and hence have something to debate, whereas for us it's wait and see what another club decides to impose on us.

I dare say it's a case of football fans being football fans. We're no different.

Some will want him back in the hope/assumption that his form will be replicated upon his return.
Some will want him back to 'stitch up Swindon'.
Some will want him back to 'let him rot' for stating that he doesn't want to return.
Some will counter argue that they might as well get rid of him.
Some will stand by the fact that's Doyle is 'shit'.

Needless to say that the outrage was minimal when the loan transfer was announced. More 'hahaha he's shit' than 'what are City thinking!?'

Bradford fans are desperate for promotion and one of their contracted players has made matters slighty more complicated for them. Ultimately, they are a good side without him.

Reminds me a little bit of when Cureton was out on loan. Curo did come back and scored six or seven goals but the damage was done and his heart was elsewhere.

I think on paper we’d still create chances and score goals without Doyle as we do create very good chances, but it’s unlikely anyone would convert like Doyle does.

Unfortunately football doesn’t work on paper so my worry is the psychological impact his departure might have on the team.

you don't find another Doyle in January.

you might find a half Doyle and sunshine steps up to do the other half though

It's quite hilarious on that Bantam Talk Forum thread. There's a poster Fordy, who is termed "Mr.Negative" and seems to think he is always right...reminds me of someone on here  :hmmm:

What's more interesting and very amusing there isn't the 102 (and growing) pages of internal squabbling, over not having hindsight. It is the incoherent believe by several that they have the divine right to one of the auto spots.

Fuck off. A lot of us have learnt the hard way that this division can become a rut for "good" and "big" clubs. The mistake is the expectation of thinking, as some of those Bradford fans are currently, they have been given some kind of "auto-bye". For all the "so close finishes" of 9th or even 6th/7th, can make for an even more frustrating time. Especially as reality sets in and a realisation that this is the here and now. I can understand their unwanted time in this wretched division but they, like us, have to earn the right to get out of it. As we all know, sometimes it can take several seasons to get it right.

Eoin Doyle will be playing in a Town shirt in February. I happen to have spoken to his father-in-law ;)

Bradford season tickets for 20/21 season now on sale,    £25 for kids,  £150 adults for new buyers, probably less for renewals,  website will not tell me renewal prices without logging in,   if they are trying to raise cash to pay Doyle,  don't think they are going to make that much at these prices.

Although would love to see Power offer tickets at those prices.

Those prices are a good idea to retain support, only viable with a good size ground like Bradford have.

Their local journo reckons they can afford to bring him back now.

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18117823.amp/?__twitter_impression=true

I can afford to hire midgets to clean my house for me, but it doesn't mean I should...

You should. Once, to freak the wife out.

... and drop a 'small' hint.

Maybe they could but would they really want to invest a considerable amount of money (by L2 standards) in a player who has openly stated he does not want to go back and who they would lose for nothing at the end of the season and who they could actually get some money for now?

Or...to put it another way...

"I can afford to hire midgets to clean my house for me, but it doesn't mean I should..."  ;)

I personally think a deal has been done for some time and it will be announced shortly after the 4th Jan...

This Bantams fan is either incredibly optimistic (yes even by Mr Rose Tinter standards here) or is completely deluded. I'll opt for the latter.

If Bradford are so low on cashflow to make c£80k from ST sales then they really do not have a pot to piss in and/or an owner not serious about automatic.

What is laughable then is the continued "We'll be selling L1 STs at L2 prices" and "when we get promoted..." this god given right to an auto spot by some of their fans. I hope they bloody fail to get auto now. No team in this division has the right to be given an auto spot. Poor attitude from some of theirs, who should know better.

Love reading their forum, 104 pages and still arguing nonstop about Doyles return,  seems as though the tide has turned and the majority now want him back.    Cheap season tickets now on sale,  probably to try to fund the 'Pele's' return.  Can't see that working (Hopefully).

I doubt they can realise next year's season ticket sales on this year's budget.

And even if they can, why would they? it would knacker next year's budget (or have I missed a sponsorship deal/takeover)

I'm not going to pretend that I'm an expert on this but he's contracted to Bradford and whatever we may think, they have the advantage in that respect.

They can absolutely put themselves at risk by recalling him and letting him fester. That's their right as baffling as it would be.

Doyle knows where he wants to be. Bradford do too. I'm just glad he cant play against us in January as that's the day his loan spell ends.

I trust Wellens to replace him.

Que Sera Sera

His loan spell ends at the end of the season Rich.

From what I've heard they have to pay us to recall so at least, if it happens, we'll have some funds to get another striker in. The supporting cast is excellent and we'll score goals with or without Doyle. Probably more with him in it, but it won't be the devastating blow our rivals will hope.

Cheers tails.

I read and hear so much the truth gets tangled in my fragile little mind.

 :)

Well,  not heard that before but if true, basically they have to buy him back,  pay all of his wages, then he can walk away at the end of the season ??,   even then, there's nothing to say he would score enough to get them promoted.  Great News !!!.

Would not be at all surprised if this has already been sorted. Though for us fans it is like looking at a wrapped Christmas present without knowing what is inside the box and being told to wait until sometime in January to open it.

I think this is true too. I have a feeling there is a gentlemens agreement that he won't sign until after we play them so he doesn't play against them.

Yep. Also if I am reading Bradford’s situation correctly, they are having a ST push for supposedly raising cash for player investment. It could be, it could also be because they actually need it for cash flow. So assuming it’s not for cash flow and therefore player enhancement, who’s to say it’s for Doyle? They may have their eyes on one or two other players to bolster their 2nd half of the season push, just like we could.

Going for a lie down now my head hurts. Not in attendance today, family commitments.

I see someone has photoshopped one of his Instagram pics.

Shows him holding one of his kids in the air to put the star on top of their Xmas tree.

The doctored one had Wellens’ head instead of his kids and a Town crest instead of the star.

Well clearly someone had a really fulfilling Christmas of their own.

That was legitimately his post

Blimey. He’s really burning his bridges. Can’t be much doubt now where he’s at now!

Both Clubs have kept their cards very close to their chests so I think the only thing anyone knows for sure is that it is a season long loan with a window in January for it to be reviewed, which apparently is standard procedure.

Personally, I don't think he would have said the following if he thought there was any chance he'd be going back...(in addition to the Instagram thing)

"I'd be disappointed if I did have to go back. I don't think I suit them [Bradford], they don't suit me, and this is where I want to be.

"It's a season-long loan, it was made clear to me at the start of the season.

"I want to be here. I'm not being nasty or anything - I hope Bradford go up as well. I just hope I'm doing it with Swindon and they're doing it off their own back."

He's essentially told them to fuck off  :hmmm:

Two and a half minutes in  :)

https://youtu.be/-4zn07Gbo3g

I think we are rapidly approaching the stage where losing Doyle won’t stop us getting automatic.

I’m expecting him to be recalled, see no reason Bradford wouldn’t but I don’t think it will stop us now. We create so many chances that we have enough goals in us to get over the line. Plus Power/Wellens/Jewell will already have a plan B in place.

Obviously don’t want to see him go back but won’t be a massive blow if he does IMO

Even if he did stay the others would have to chip in a bit more anyway as the current ratio would be difficult to maintain over a whole season.
Doyle's goals have been the difference between top of the league and mid table.
As you say, top three auto place is within range but the prospect of potentially getting there with two different strike pairings is intriguing.

of course him going back would be a massive blow. I have absolutely no idea what you are on about.

(I mean that without malice)

Yates will score some, we know Anderson and Woolery are a little bit fits and starts.

 and yes Doyle will slow down.

plan B would have to be of Yates goalscoring contribution.

but it's out of our hands whatever

I have a lot of confidence in the recruitment nouse of Wellens and Jewell.

We are making opportunities that other strikers will put away, albeit not as many as the ginger Pele would (probably). It'll be good to go into the New year maintaining (or extending) our 9 point cushion over 4th place for a little leeway.

I am by no means trying to take away anything from Doyle, but he has had the kind of service that any decent poacher will thrive on. He's said so himself that he gets a lot of tap ins. But then, he has to have the footballing brain to be in the right place at the right time.

I reckon the Marc Richards that first joined us would get 25-30 in this team.

I think we've all pretty much said what can be said on the situation... and then some more.

We'll find out either way soon.

Anyone know the exact date that a deal has to be finally sorted ?,   I know he's still with us on January 4th, but sure it has to be sorted before the Crewe game on the 11th.

the rules just say 'in the winter transfer window', so I guess it comes down to the terms of the contract. Which I guess was your question and that  nobody can answer it.

IIRC, the contract says they have a small window in which to make a decision.

Thats what I believe,  I'm sure somewhere on here someone actually gave the dates of the 'window', have searched but cannot find the post.

I was thinking of the scenario if both Doyle and Yates are recalled.
In plan B we trust I guess.

Anyway, this thread will be redundant one way or another in a few days time.

Just thinking. What’s the point in having a season long if they all have a recall option in January.

Why not just have window-to-window loans which can be extended if agreed.

All season long loans have a clause that it can be terminated in January if the loan is not working.

Bear in mind we signed May on a season loan, we/the player/Pompey don't want him to stay any longer than then as the loan obviously hasn't worked out for him or us.

If Rotherham had an injured striker then they would probably take Yates back as it saves them getting an extra body in as he is already contracted to them too.

Some loans, especially for the younger players can have a termination clause included if the player is injured, hence Ballard going back to Arsenal otherwise that would also tie up an extra loan spot in the squad. 8 being the maximum loan players at any one club IIRC.

Oh, how opinions change,  from the Bantams website - - -




Like + Quote Reply

BantamsteveWell-Known Member

Dennis said: ↑

Doyle failed to score yesterday. He's yesterday's man now if not quite last year's! He's reached his peak and he's now on a downward trajectory! Why would we want him back under those circumstances?

I've a hunch that that's tongue in cheek.

Usually I'd agree but on that forum there seems to be a bunch of them who while incredibly turncoat are also deadly serious. Act as if they never held a previously polarising opinion.

Scrap that, having now seen the post I see it has a cheeky winking face. Which was missing off the quote on here.

So on that case yep, it's tongue on cheek. Still stand by how some of them on there post though.

Some journo from the Non League Paper reckons Salford are in for Doyle. Not sure why as cant play for anyone else. They are also in for Akinde. No doubt they’ll spend a shit load this window

Although  I don't believe it, I suppose a pre-contract agreement could be a possibility?

Salford. In for a player? Never! They're be in for the opening of an envelope so it's an easy call even if the journo is taking a punt  :hmmm:

if it's in the Non League Journal it must be true !!.

I'm lost in all this, is doyle available to play for us against Plymouth? is he automatically recalled or do we wait for confirmation? if hes unavailable for a few weeks and bradford play games I'd recruit straight away.

It's a season long loan, so Bradford would need to recall him (not automatic) for him to not be available for us.

He is free to play for us aside from against Bradford.

Bradford would likely have an option to recall him from loan for a small window, should they wish to do so and have the funding to cover his full wage without breaching the EFL rules (and likely place them under a transfer embargo).

Doyle is free to begin discussions with any club he chooses for a new contract at the end of this season and can sign a pre-agreement.

Bradford can Recall him and attempt to sell him, but he could only play for them or us for the remainder of this season.  A pretty shoddy deal for any club when they can get him to sign for free anyway, so as things stand we are the only club they'd get any cash from.

As of right now, he remains our player until the end of this season, then he returns to Bradford and is released from his contract as a free man.

My friend actually has a column in the NLP. But all his stuff is true.

Towards the very end, but Bowyer sounds resigned

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07z7yx1

I’ve heard a deal has been done.
Although it’s from a mates, work colleagues, cousins, boyfriend...

He seemed reluctant to answer the 'is it possible he'll be a Bradford player' question.

Interestingly, Doyle is 4th on their fans Player of the season so far List

He's been playing a straight bat consistently throughout.

I, personally, don't think Bowyer wants him.

he's gonna get a twisted summin or uvva in the last 5 mins against Plymuff

Just had a thought.

He's their player (at the moment). They don't need to hold any discussions with us in order to recall him. They could just do so.

Good point. The only thing to discuss would be him staying at Swindon...

The ginger one is at Plymouth.

As are Grant and Yates.

It's a season long loan so him staying is the default, so no need for a discussion around that either. I think Costanza's right, that Bowyer doesn't want him as he knows he can't get the best out of him/fit him into their system. But that doesn't mean that the hierarchy at Bradford don't want him back. Maybe those "ongoing conversations" have been internal.
Bowyer "I want to get a goalscorer in in Jan"
Bradford board "Ha ha, no need, we have a goalscorer already on loan at Swindon, just recall him"
Bowyer "He doesn't fit into my system"
Bradford board "So change your system. Or maybe we need to change to a manager who can fit him in?"
That would also account for the dour "resigned" tone toward the end that others have noted. Although tbf he doesn't sound like a barrel of laughs at the best of times

The conversations I had in mind would be to discuss the terms of a permanent move  :hmmm:

Agree about Bowyer - he is one dour mother fucker. All the Bradford fans seem to be complaining about his boring style of play - but it's just a reflection of him...

Hope so!

According to a Bradford journo, there's a confidentiality clause on the temrs of any recall on his loan, which would explain why both sides have said so little.

It would also tie in with what somebody else said about Bradford having to pay a fee to us to recall him.

I think we’ll announce his signing after the Bradford game. I honestly can’t se him going back to Bradford to only get a free in June. He’s ours

Bradford can use the line of having held discussions with the player it was clear he did not want to return and we don't not want to have a player here that does not want to be here and to disrupt the good team spirit we have in the team so the decision was taken for him to stay at Swindon.

I'm sure this will all be sorted after next weekend though.

+1

I don't believe that for one second.....

You have a friend?  ;) :D

I know, I even surprised myself  :D

Bambi's favourite tune....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvvJ7MYaK8o

I may he on my own but I'm not going to be crying and think we are missing out on promotion if we dont sign Doyle. He has obviously been more than outstanding with his goals record. But we do have genuine quality throughout the team this year. It definitely isnt the one man team Bradford fans and probably many others assume.

we would miss him without a recruitment for sure as we really only have two strikers on the books. what I dont really want is to blow the bank and tie him down to a 3 year contract. I'd even accept just seeing this season through on the original affordable terms and reassess in the summer.

He isnt pulling out worldie goals all the time, they are instinctive good goals with the team constantly feeding him opportunities.

I do love him, but 3 years and signing on fee and on anywhere near his current wages in as a lot for 32 year old in possibly a hot streak season. League 1 will be different I'm sure

we'll find out soon enough !!.

I think with our current squad, a few additions and the way Wellens has them playing. We could easily be sniffing POs in L1. Look at Oxford and Wycombe. We'll also have a pretty much settled side.

Doyle of course would be a coup. If Richards gave us good value (for a while) at 35. Doyle is certainly worth the rest of this season with a 2yr deal (poss option afterwards). What he brings is goals but he also brings a cracking attitude and example to some of the younger pros.

In my mind he is an invaluable signing and an asset which goes beyond his goals.

You know me so well Reggie baby  :soapy tit wank:

Probably bollocks but...

https://twitter.com/efl_hub/status/1212788351285301249 (https://twitter.com/efl_hub/status/1212788351285301249)

Possibly/Maybe bollocks,  but saying what we want to hear,  no smoke without fire ??.

Interesting if true, from the Bradferd forum:

"As I understand it the latest on Eoin Doyle saga, a deal has been agreed between BCFC & Swindon Town, the only thing outstanding is the personal terms of the player with Swindon Town, hopefully resolved by Monday of next week, as the saying goes watch this space ;)"

If the rumour mill is true, Eoin Doyle is on a lot of money at Bradford.

There will need to be a negotiation.

... some of that would likely come by way off a pay off from Bradford.

He also seems to value security very highly.

Example numbers, but say he's on £5k a week at Bradford until the summer. We offer £3k a week on a 2.5yr deal and a signing fee of £50k (covering the shortfall between now and the summer). He breaks even and has a good deal taking him to 34.

I imagine there will be a fair bit of horse trading like this to build a deal that works for all, I wonder whether a Waterford shaped carrot can also be dangled for the future?

Not a bad shout that. 30 month deal with us then 12 months with an option at Waterford. See out your career.

Their journo seems to think Bowyer has been in regular contact and he is likely to be going back.

Didnt Doyle say he hasnt heard from Bradford at all though?

No Doyle said he has been in regular contact with Bowyer and the chairman and expressed to them he did not want to return. According to Power last week.

Its Grant that has had no contact with his parent club or manager.

It'd be a huge risk to insist on keeping a player against his wishes - they nearly always get their way. Doyle seems the type to remain professional and work his hardest, but psycology plays a huge role. His heart's just not going to be in it no matter how hard he might be willing to try.

You’re spot on. Players nearly always get their wish - via their agent. Even the mega bucks clubs don’t let a player who wants away festering with discontent around the place.

Tbh, I reckon if he was recalled there’s more chance he’d derail their season than ours.

Chuck in unlimited flights Bristol to Dublin, a coaching role at Waterford and a Guiness "retirement" credit card and he's ours  :pint:

Think the "discussions" the keep popping up Bradford end are actual between reps of BCFC, Doyle and likely Jewell/STFC in ironing out a package that suits all parties.

At the mo we have BCFC (Package A/current contract), STFC (Package B/current loan), Doyle/Agent (Package C/What they want). All those will be putting forward deals that suit them individually. Negotiations ensue, compromise is met (eg. Doyle wants £5k, BCFC say they'll only pay that if promoted; STFC say we'll pay you £4k, 2.5yr deal. Get to 30 goals £4.5k, get to 40 goals £5k, get promoted as champions/L1 rise/score 15 goal in L1, raise to £6k.)

Think c£600k max for two years Doyle has already earnt that kind of contract with his goals already. Say Doyle scores 35gls for us this season and we get auto. With promotion being worth a minimum of £1.5m then Doyle's potential 'contract' would be worth c£17k per goal. A cheap return when pitted against the £1.5m promotion bounty as 35gls would equate to nearly £43k per goal. I know you don't blow your budget on one player but we're talking one revenue strand for promotion and repaying the faith in obtaining said promotion. Well worth it.

Hopefully Doyle agrees that's the kind of contract that not only is generous but keeps him motivated to score too.

My worry is, We had a similar situation with Nelson last year, although I think his initial loan expired??  he also wanted to stay with us and it looked likely he would, his contract was also running out but we ended up without him. 

Obviously Doyle can only play for us or Bradford, so they can’t loan him but it all feels a little similar to me, as I think most expecting him to be back with us and it never happened

Regarding Granty:

https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2019/12/14/dont-expect-big-shrewsbury-town-changes-in-january/

Wellens on signings: "We think Paul Caddis is going to sign a contract extension this afternoon. We are close to turning a loan signing into a permanent deal. It will help us massively but I won't say it is yet." #stfc #efl

It'll be Grant.

Wellens on Doyle: It's a strange situation. The breakout clause is a few days after the Bradford game. Conversations are ongoing and we will see what we can do. If we can't do something then we will have to look elsewhere and Bradford will have to fit Doyle into their team. #stfc

I imagine people can read into that what they want, but it sounds to me as though Bradford are willing to do a deal. Whether or not that deal is suitable/affordable for us is another matter entirely.

I certainly did with Nelson (and was pretty certain he would come back). Difference here is Nelson could be loaned out elsewhere, which he was to Tranny. Also Sid was/is much younger. Some may say the right decision was made for him, since he wasn't guaranteed promotion with us. He got that with Tranny.

This time Doyle has been an integral key of our spine, he's older and would like to know where his future is. Seeing as in his mind he was/is here till May, with options in the Summer. Nelson would've triggered tribunal had we tried to get him in the summer (after a Millwall contract offer).

Auto isn't guaranteed but Doyle knows his promotion chances are better in a team he is scoring in and celebrating in the stands with. Nelson of course was more willing to be led/advised by his parent club who he'd been with since 14yrs old. I feel Doyle will engineer his own move/terms via his agent and he has the maturity to do it sensibly.

Eat my hat territory but Doyle will be a Town player by the end of this month.

And that bit seems to be telling us something.

Big difference being that we weren't likely to challenge for promotion last season. And Nelson wasn't nearly the player that Doyle is. There's a difference between being asked too much for a "nice to have" player and being prepared to go the extra mile for a player who's goals could make the difference in getting promoted. We'll see.

I think Wellens is saying all the right things.  Doesn't want to sound like he's desperate or too presumptuous that a deal is a foregone conclusion...

As in, can they fit him in? And; does Doyle want to fit into a team that wouldn't utilise him correctly?

I think they (Town) are negotiating (with Doyle and BCFC) as we speak. Likely Doyle happy with our part to him, BCFC understandably maybe pushing for a little more in terms of their compensation. Still think he'll become a Town player.

Also, could be classic Wellens double bluff territory. He likes to play with the media a little. RE: Zeki not available for Plymouth...in you go Zeki :)

We'll soon see of course.

...not forgetting that Doyle can't be shipped out on loan and have a lovely time elsewhere.

How is Sid doing these days?

So for the game tomorrow do we change the words to "We want Pelle, The ginger Pelle"   :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Still at Trannies, last his Dad told me  ;)

Not necessarilly anything to do with Doyle, but this is from Wellens

Wellens is a master of the press conference.

Rumour has it that he was at Bradford yesterday,   make of it what you like,  but if true it proves a deal may well be involving Doyles wishes/thoughts.

Their manager is about as inspiring as Paul Hart, trying to do a poor mans Fergie saying we should be more worried about losing Wellens  :zzz:

I think this is going to be one of the most interesting and stressful January transfer windows in a long time. 

That Fordy ain't the brightest.

He argues against himself half the time.

Reading the Bradford forum, they strike me as being a bunch of very bitter fuckwits.

In August they said they would drive him to Swindon to get rid of him, now they want us to pay far more than hes actually worth and will do anything to stop us keeping him. Fickle fucks.

I hope its sorted soon for us and Doyles sake (fuck Bradford) so we can either plan for life without him or with him spearheading our front line to promotion.

I think most are OK. Sure, there's the odd tool, but you'll find that in any group.

They will want this saga over just as much as we do.

Their forum isnt any different to ours.lots of football fans with an opinion believe their opinion is factual.  Or at least should be. The reality is far different. Luckily its pretty easy to spot the complete fuck wits. Present typer excepted..

Yates

https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-paul-warne-discusses-jerry-yates-and-jake-hasties-future-1355110

Well if it's not Yates who's staying, then...

Grant, I think. Obviously.

To be honest, we'd be the same if, say Twine was on loan at, say, Forest Green and banging 'em in

Wellens said one was converting to permanent (Grant)
And another was staying on loan (Doyle or Yates).

He could have meant Benda or DJ, but I don't get that impression.

Power last week said that he thought (hoped) all our loanees would either stay or become permanent signings this window. Sending May back obviously.

If Doyle goes back Bradford will be paying £5k a week for one unhappy player that doesn’t suit their style.

We’ll have the £3,5k a week we were paying for Doyle to recruit another decent striker.

Who has got the best of that deal?

can anyone provide some context for me?

£5k and even £3.5k a week a league 2 level seems crazy to me. id only want to pay it to secure an investment for a young player of real top quality where we could recoup in the future with a transfer fee.

Or is this the going rate and normal? not sure what our average wage is but this seems like it would be the highest?

His contract was signed from Preston in League One after a reputed 200k fee was paid.  It's not unreasonable for him to be on well above par wages for a L2 player.

3.5k -5k a week sounds a bargain to me,  7k a week seems to be the amount banded about,  either way seems a bargain to me considering the goal to game ratio.

only if you understand that this ratio wont be sustainable across the potential length of his contract. this is a record breaking run.

It’s what you pay for a striker if you are a League 1 club looking to get promoted. Which Bradford were 16 months ago.

Adam Rooney probably on similar. Surely no one else in the league is close? Most of the best players in the league will be on around £2k-£2.5k ?

I still think there is something in the loan agreement that makes it hard for Bradford to recall him, something like a recall fee or an option for us to buy. A scenario where he scored goals and Bradford want him back was always possible but one thing Power isn’t is an idiot and we’ve seen in the past he can be very sneaky with deals like the Gladwin and Luongo sale.

Somebody has mentioned this before. I think it was Tails? and he's not known for spreading shite.

It would explain a lot of the secrecy over the situation.

Remember pre season when Wellens was desperate to offload Toums/NcGlashan and, at the time, Anderson. He reckoned those 3 were taking up 25% of his total playing budget. Assuming that budget was £2m - not unreasonable - those 3 were on £500,000 between them. That’s over £3k a week each. For a club looking for promotion those kind of figures are the going rate.

Mansfield, for example, pay more. We were interested in Maynard - he’s on £5k a week there.

One thing, if Doyle was going back Plymouth would have been his last game and you would have thought there would have been some sort of acknowledgement or goodbye from him. His intentions are to stay and at the end of the day if a player wants to leave he will, and Bradford must know that,

Towell at Salford is on a reported £10k a week.

Salford are a complete anomaly...that's one word for them any way...

The last thing players, agents and clubs want or need is for private and confidential contracts to become common or public knowledge. All these figures being bandied about are nothing more than speculation. Sure there maybe anecdotal background substance which is xxxx hand and twice removed. Unless you have written evidence it all means zip.

This, showed absolutely no signs that he'd played his last game for us, in fact if anything the clapping and waving told me exactly the opposite.   2-0 to us today,  and confirmation of Pele signing next week.  Happy Days.

I suspect that I am not alone in saying that I will be glad to finally see the back of the endless (and, dare I say, ill informed) speculation on this topic.

I see Mr Doyle is not going to the game today and having some family time.

A good decision as cheering goals for either team would be in bad taste TBH.

On the subject of cheering other than the two current Doyle anthems I’m wondering if there will be any goading/inflammatory songs dished out today?

‘He fucking hates you
He fucking hates yoooou
Eoin Doyle, he fucking hates you’

It has potential.

I hope so, I think that would be suitable.

I agree. Sadly for a number of reasons I cannot get to today’s game.

How about...

E-I-E-I-E-O-IN
Plays for Town and shots go in
When he signs for Swindon
This is what we'll say
We are Swindon, we are Swindon, with Ginger Pele!

Last line needs some working on.

He's gone back to Ireland with his family.

Alan Nixon transfer news in the paper tomorrow

Is he a centre half?

No, he plays on the right wing....

D Day? Sounds as if the shift is him returning to Bradford - probably mainly to avoid a PR disaster

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18139144.bradford-city-ready-make-doyle-decision/

If it is then get it done quickly so we can all move on and get him replaced before Saturday.

Nixon said yesterday we were “going in very hard” for him - presumably on a permanent deal. Bowyer’s comments are fairly mundane - it’s the journalist that seems keen to bring him back, presumably in the hope he’ll get to stop watching long ball drivel every week.

I'm pretty sure that bloke knows no more than you or I do...

Probably so - hopefully.

Doyle’s stock is probably the highest it’s ever been. Go back to Bradford, in that team, and by June it’s fallen. Whether he stays with us on a perm or just seeing the season out, clocking up 30+ goals gives him options.

Just get it sorted one way or another.

We could still be playing Saturday's game now and Doyle would still not have scored in that Bradford team.

Harry Kane would struggle to score in that team.

I imagine that Bradford will drag this ojut as long as possible, to reduce the chances of us signing a replacement?

Why would he want to ?,  he's a Swindon man.

Are Bradford really that devious? I'm not so sure. Fans and local media have whipped this up but Bowyer and owners haven't fuelled the flames too much if at all.

They'll take it to the brink during this recall window and that's fair enough.

If Town are willing to pay over the odds* then Bradford will listen.

* In terms of a player with 6 months left on their deal.

They only have this week to recall him I believe.

Sent from my Mi A1

I'm led to believe the deadline is tomorrow.

Power is a shrewd businessman and may have a plan B lined up and may have a top figure he won't go over which he will leave it upto Bradford to accept or not knowing that Doyle dosen't want to play for them

If we make a fair financial offer, you'd think that Bowyer would have enough confidence in his ability (misplaced or not) to prefer having cash to spend now plus Doyle's wage to reinvest over the riskier and more negative strategy of blocking us and trying to fit him back into his plans.

You're over thinking it now...

Good point and commence should get the deal done. On a side point I bet we're all glad Bowyer wasn't appointed as our manager when previously linked as I couldn't imagine watching that dross every week

Probably would've taken us up though. One of those shit yet effective managers.

Surprised Bradford aren't that keen on him considering how much they loved Parkinson and his brand of 'foot'ball.

Reminds me of Sturrock

Same reputation as Flitcroft. But he was just shit.

It's 'D'-Day apparently... :popcorn:

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18139144.bradford-city-ready-make-doyle-decision/

I like that Wellens is going to 'respect' they decision, what's he going to do otherwise, lock Doyler in a cupboard!

Note is the second most read story on the T&A website (Although that might just be Town fans reading it), the comments make interesting and actually quite sensible reading.

It already was three hours ago.

Fat lot of use you'd have been on Omaha Beach. Although admittedly better than Legends-Lounge, who'd still be skulking around in Weymouth for another ten days, before claiming to be a war hero.

My bad  :doh:

Although in reality I supsect D-Day came and went some time ago when a decision was made but non announced for obvious reasons...

Indeed, the idea that they've not really given it much thought till now but they're going to sit down and have a chat about it this afternoon is laughable

I expect they'll have already decided to do x unless y happens in the meantime.

Its also in both clubs interest to agree how the narrative is spun either way.

It’s easier for Power, though. All he has to say is Bradford wanted him back and there was nothing he could do about it.

If Bradford dont recall him they’ll be loads of shit directed in their direction. Maybe the time it’s taking is for Bradford to have another striker lined up to deflect the criticism.

Tbf, I’d be fucking livid if I was a Bradford fan.

I think he gets "recalled" today as that's the official deadline and Bradford have to do that if they want to either;

a) keep him.
b) renegotiate his loan with us.
or
c) sell him to us.

Otherwise they'd be allowing him to stay here on his current agreement. Since he has scored a shitload, renegotiated/improved loan terms seems fair for Bradford to suggest we pay a bit more/all of his wage. I'm going for the latter (option c), and he'll be a Town player by the end of the window.

Hahaha. Just had a quick look on the BantamTalk thread RE: Doyle, which is now called "Eoin Doyle (recalled to City 8/1/2020)" lolz.

Best thing is, a poster called Mitchelldownie seems to think that Doyle can and  I quote
I'd love half of what he's on. Two promotions, in one season!? Now unless they think Bradford are going to "do a Swindon" and get shafted by the FL then good luck  :pint:

How many games do you need to play to get a medal

In the 10-15 range normally so the fella maybe onto something, not that you get a medal for finishing 2nd or 3rd mind you.

Championship medal and PO winners medal is possible

Yeah but I'm pretty sure that the condition on receiving a medal isn't just the games played. You have to be registered at the club you're playing for come seasons end/last game.

Last time I checked you can't be registered at one club at the same time (although you can be registered for three clubs in one season; 3 in 2 rule).

Anyway he wouldn't win two medals (unless POs) but happy if someone can clarify it.

I'm sure you get medals for second and third...my mate was a assistant physio at Wycombe and he has one framed on his office wall...they came third that year.

Richie De Laet won a prem medal with Leicester and a championship medal with Middlesbrough in the same season

It does make me chuckle how Bradford fans see us as a one man team, and that they thought we were no great shakes in the two matches. When we played up there it was slap bang in the middle of our worst run this season, when we lost over half our league loss total to date. Playing them at home whilst struggling with injuries and players out of position. We'll be fine. Shame if they started to drop away now  ;)

Well we shall see how we cope for the next monrh, a win on Saturday will silence a lot of the noise.

It's baffling to call any team a one-man team when they also have the 2nd highest scorer in the league. And he (Yates) has not even been used as a striker most of the time.

I think we would probably have lost even with Doyle on Saturday tbh, given the current crop of absentees but no doubt if we do it will be attributed to his absence. Unless he signs in the next 36 hours

That's my hope, Yates steps up to the big boy role, we've then got space for another loan, shore up the defence, let Grant go back to running other teams around in midfield, Robert's your mother's brother.

Fair enough. Wonder if it matters if say you start a season with your parent club and go on to sign for another? Whereas say Doyle, goes out on loan (that club get promoted) and goes back to parent club, gets promoted. Or does the order not matter?

Anyway, pretty much rebuffs my thought. Thanks.

Yates scored in both the games Doyle wasn't with us at the start of the season.

Anybody fancy looking up our points to games ratio in games without Doyle this season?

4 games 7 points

(league that is)

The kind of form that gets you promoted, odd.

We also scored 7 goals in those 4 games, and Yates got 4.

Not bad for a one-man team that was playing without that one man.

It actually puts Yates on a similar path as Doyle, which might suggest the way we play has a significant impact on the centre forwards ability to score - i.e we create chances for the middle man.  Obviously we still need someone, because Doyle coming was the result of Yates being suspended and it showed we didn't really have someone to fill the gap.  The reassuring aspect, although only 4 games, is that it suggests a decent enough player could be brought in to help provided we fill the gap with Yates out wide.

We could be a modern day version of the Spurs team with Clive Allen upfront.

Combined losses is ultimately what is going to hurt us short term as I'd put Anderson, Baudry and Fryers all in the same bracket as Doyle in terms of key players. With Doyle gone we could have done with Anderson's creativity and goals, Lyden is a miss also but we have cover for him on paper.

Yes, that was the risk with our recruitment this season.  However, only one or two are long term losses, so if we get through this month still intact, add a few players here and there along the way, we could be well set to maintain the momentum for the rest of the season.  Doyle is a loss, but the analysis of the 4 games without him give hope that we could replace it.  On top of that, a few of the teams below us have a couple of games in hand, which means they'll have more clogged fixture lists.  That could help us in a few months, especially as we banked the points.

If we achieved that form all season so far, we'd currently be in 3rd. Albeit with other teams around us having games in hand.

I know it's a small sample size to work with, but still, the available data clearly suggests we don't 'need' Doyle. (Although it would still be marvellous to have him back).

The Bradford fans are quite amusing with their ‘swindon couldn’t afford him’ rhetoric making out themselves to be far superior financially. If you factor in season ticket prices then their income despite crowd size is probably fairly similar in comparison to ours.
I’m sure we could afford Doyle but it’s the balance between spending the money and the fact we are unlikely to get any financial return due to his age.

Buy Yates instead.

I’d be disappointed if we spent big (in STFC terms) money on Doyle. £75k tops for me.

I looked at the Bradford side of things today. It was depressing.

How on earth some of you have been reading through that on a daily basis is beyond me.

Also, I'm not a hugely tribal football fan but if Bradford fail to go up and/or Swindon get promoted (AGAINST ALL THE ODDS) then I might just give it the absolute big guns.

One for later  :)

https://youtu.be/EzZ4epnxeww

Agree there, there is no way we should be paying 6 figures with him being out of contract end of season and having no real resale value, it should be on a proviso if we go up then we will pay Bradford around £50,000, if we capitulate then they get nothing.

We almost be paying for him to shoot us to promotion with his goals.

Would they risk selling to a promotion rival though...

 

Surely Col U and FGR are their promotion rivals?

Hides behind sofa..

I agree, Cheltenham 3rd on 44 point down to Col U 9th on 41 points and all in between. Look at their fixtures and they have to play 7 games with those teams in that mix plus some just outside that mix. TBF that’s the same for most others I expect but they’ve not set the world on fire and there is a lot of action to unfold between now and the EOS.

Quite a bad miss yesterday from the ginger one. Should have at least hit the target but skied it instead.

And he still hasn't been interviewed by the Bradford press.
And his twitter profile still says he's  Swindon player.

He did set up Vaughan’s goal, who is now suspended for 2 games - leaving Doyle as a lone striker.

With those long punts up to him I can’t see him breaking his duck any time soon - unless they get a pen.

Away to Colchester Tuesday night,  then away to Mansfield Saturday,  could be a make or break week for Doyle.

Even though, on paper, they are doing OK, there is a clamour to bin off Bowyer. Last thing we need is a new manager there who knows what he’s doing!

I haven't seen it myself but I hear he wasn't what you'd call enthusiastic in his celebration when they took the lead, certainly not how he celebrated when we scored, whether he was involved or not.

I still think he'll be back.

Sent from my CLT-L09

Yeah he used to really celebrate when we scored. Doesn't really mean anything though, everyone already knows he didn't want to go back yet here we are....

Nah I know but if there's a place to read into it a little, it's this thread even if only as a bit of fun. Like I've said on twitter, I'll think we'll cope without him, not that we'll have to. Keeping that #28 free

Sent from my CLT-L09

That's an understatement...

https://twitter.com/tylerstfc/status/1218868752948899840

The ginger Pele wasn't 100% on target with us. He did miss a few (just a few).

But he also got more than one chance a game.

His reaction says it all. Fed up and frustrated.

Hopefully he’ll be the same at 10.00 pm on a Tuesday night.

Hopefully but the last thing we want is Bowyer to get the bullet and a new manager get him performing again.  Probably not enough time to do that before the window closes though.

I can't see Bowyer being booted in this window.

They are still in the playoffs. Even if you were not in the playoffs, but close, you'd be reluctant to change anything. It all rather Flitcroft-esque.

Bowyer is not going anywhere until the season goes tits up which could be as late as the final whistle of the play off final. Not least because any new person coming in would want some money to spend, I’m sorry but Bradford don’t have it in spades. Secondly who would they go after? A ‘name’ would want money, as they invariably do. Nah, best the bantams could hope for is he gets them over the line one way or another. Then decide the direction they wish to go manager wise in the close season.

Good ‘ol Daily Mail

DOYLE MAGIC IS MISSING
Daily Mail
20 Jan 2020
TOM FARMERY


EOIN DOYLE said in December he would be ‘disappointed’ if BRADFORD recalled him from his loan at Swindon. Doyle had been in scintillating form for Swindon, scoring 23 goals in 23 appearances. Now he is back at Bradford and, rather predictably, the goals have dried up. He is without one since his return although he did provide the assist for Hope Akpan’s opener before SCUNTHORPE came from two goals down to draw 2-2.

Similar pieces in the Sun and the Times today

What’s worse for Bradford/Bowyer?

Keep Doyle who continues struggling to score or

Returns to us where he continues to score

Either scenario makes him look a right twat.

That's the problem with being a right twat, I guess

He is more likely to score and take points from Exeter, Cheltenham, FGR etc playing for us, than he is for Bradford. Therefore doing both clubs a favour. We've got a long week and a bit ahead of us.

Sent from my CLT-L09

Doyle has now gone 559 minutes of first team games without scoring for Bradford, his last goal for them being in a 3-2 win at Scunthorpe in April. Thats 6 and a half games now.

That does seem to suggest their style does not suit him and his style does not suit them.

If he is on the suggested £5k per week then thats around £100k in wages they will be pretty much throwing away and tying up in their budget for the rest of the season, a budget already squeezed tightly.

Bowyer is in a no win situation now, a real quandry, if he lets us sign him for a low fee or even take him back on loan then he gets (what would seem) an unhappy player off his books and also frees up that £100k back into his budget allowing him some freedom to bring a new face or 2 in the squad.

We get a player who wants to be at Swindon and whos style suits us and visa versa.

We continue to win games against the teams vying for play off places that Bradford are also vying for giving them an advantage as well as us.

Doyle scoring so many goals for us was probably the worst thing that could have happened to Bowyer in this situation and has put him under a lot of pressure from the fans to either get Doyle performing,  by changing his whole team style or to sell him to the best team in the league and a rival team (in their eyes).

From what I read their fans don't like Bowyer much anyway, he has the personality of a used tea bag, I still think we are giving Bradford some time to get a deal brokered for Doyle before the deadline, although it will be pushing it close time wise.

I think if its still looking unlikely a few days before deadline day then we will probably use most of that wage budget going after Bennett at Rovers (frozen out of the matchday squad for a few weeks now and told he is not wanted) again and signing a young loanee from a Championship side as well.

Indeed...
https://twitter.com/SwindonTownFans/status/1219228608130166787

He’s on his own for the next 2 games with Vaughan suspended and Bowyer saying he won’t risk Donaldson yet.

Can’t imagine hoof ball will get him scoring. Their main asset pre Doyle was a tight defence. Since they’ve shoehorned him into the side they have shipped a few and he isn’t scoring.

It’ll be next week, if at all, if he returns.

Bradford have a very difficult run in to the end of the season, starting with ColU away tomorrow  :)

Is it too early to bump this yet?  :)

Liked this off Cows Arse (Bradford fan site) on Twitter

"Bowyer has finally worked out how to get Vaughan and Doyle scoring again. Send them to a different team."

https://twitter.com/The_Cows_Arse/status/1221881717293756425