Fuck it.

[nevillew]

It seems like the business model has been settled on, where we're not going to be offering long term contracts.(more than 2 years) - Austin as an exception.

Therefore, we're mixing up a blend of experienced pros on two year contracts, younger players on shorter terms, with the hint of extensions, and making full use of the loan system. By definition we're going to have high player turnover, more so after a good campaign.

To be honest, if we have a good season, our better players will be in the shop window and likely to move on - hopefully for a sensible fee. As has been said, we can't expect long term loyalty from people like Paynter, who have to cash in in a short term career.

I can't even imagine what these boards will be like if Charlie has a half decent start to the season, because he'll be gone this time next year at the latest.

The only way we break this mould is to get promoted, and be the club offering the next step up the ladder to promising players.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Fucking hell Leefer, with the greatest of respect, I think you've gone over board there. Here is who you should be blaming for Paynter going for nothing:

[url width=200 height=261]http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9009/bosmangu2.jpg[/url]

It's no one else's fault. If Paynter is going to get 8k+ a week from Leeds then there is no way we should try to compete with that, for reasons which are obvious. Yes, we fucked ourselves over with the sale of Fjortfoft and Shearer (I personally think the money we got for Parkin wasn't too bad) but those deals were a life time ago and done by people long gone (thank God!)

Losing Paynter makes us no different to most other clubs and in fact, we're much better run than most. If the mighty, all conquering Leeds could not hold on to Jermaine Beckford, what chance did we have of holding on to Paynter?

You're obviously pissed off right now but I'll tell you what, go on to STFC Player and listen to AF's speach. It will make you feel better. Guaranteed

[leefer]

Fucking hell Leefer, with the greatest of respect, I think you've gone over board there. Here is who you should be blaming for Paynter going for nothing:

[url width=200 height=261]http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9009/bosmangu2.jpg[/url]

It's no one else's fault. If Paynter is going to get 8k+ a week from Leeds then there is no way we should try to compete with that, for reasons which are obvious. Yes, we fucked ourselves over with the sale of Fjortfoft and Shearer (I personally think the money we got for Parkin wasn't too bad) but those deals were a life time ago and done by people long gone (thank God!)

Losing Paynter makes us no different to most other clubs and in fact, we're much better run than most. If the mighty, all conquering Leeds could not hold on to Jermaine Beckford, what chance did we have of holding on to Paynter?

You're obviously pissed off right now but I'll tell you what, go on to STFC Player and listen to AF's speach. It will make you feel better. Guaranteed

You have a right to your opinions..i have mine.
The point i think you are missing is untill we stop losing(Bosman) or selling our players on a regular basis you wont attract the stayaway fans and many of my era who have given up wont be back.
Its all right saying the past sales were a lifetime ago..but they were in my lifetime and nothing changes.
Fitton and co have been brilliant granted but they messed up on this one...and believe me Wilson wont take to much more of todays happenings.
As a sidenote many young fans had Paynter shirts on at Wembley...probably hard earned cash spent for the occasion...how are they feeling right now.
How do you know Paynters on 8K a week,no one knows the facts but the facts for me are strikingly similar to many seasons past..if i am over reacting i apologise but i am utterly pissed off.

[Summerof69]

Fucking hell Leefer, with the greatest of respect, I think you've gone over board there. Here is who you should be blaming for Paynter going for nothing:

[url width=200 height=261]http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9009/bosmangu2.jpg[/url]

Correct. If the rest of Europe had the old UK rules for freedom of contract, the Bosman ruling would never have happened.

[Batch]

Sorry but I disagree Leefer. If Paynter wants to leave there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop him.You can't break the bank to keep him.  I'd imagine Wilson realises this!

The football world has sadly changed. The days of keeping hold of your players are over thanks to Bosman.

When a club loses £3M in a season in needs to either find someone mega rich, sell to balance the books or go bust. We don't have someone prepared to bankroll the club to that extent. So there is no choice.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

I seriously don't see why this is such a big deal Leefer. We all knew he was off didn't we? Now i'm sure we're all dissapointed but we now have some spare cash on the wage bill to get someone decent in to replace him. Forget it. We need to look forward not back. We're still being run within our means and until our crowds increase and we get a new CG we cannot simply break the bank to keep hold of our star players.

[The_Plagiarist]

nice idealism from rodney and others but this isn't championship manager unfortunately, this is the real world!

If we sell austin for <£2m on the other hand... then I'll be moaning

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Arsenal are going to lose Fabregas to Barca. Man U lost Ronaldo to Real Madrid. Almost every single football club is in the same position to a greater or lesser degree. In fact, the only ones who are not in this position are the afore mentioned Barcelona and Real Madrid as they are at the top of the food chain.

If those clubs mentioned cannot hold on to their best players, why should we be able to hold on to Paynter?

You say, 'until we stop selling our best players', but look at the players we have kept who would definitely have gone under previous regimes. JPM for example could easily have gone in the window. Possibly Cuthbert as well. Paynter himself could have gone during the window I'm sure if the Board had wanted to cash in.

I don't know what Paynter will be getting paid at Leeds (if that is where he ends up - I bet it is) but I bet you it is two or three times what he would be getting at Swindon. If we assume that is correct, surely you would acknowledge that there is no way we can hold on to him?

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

nice idealism from rodney and others but this isn't championship manager unfortunately, this is the real world!

If we sell austin for <£2m on the other hand... then I'll be moaning

Yeah, if we accepted Millwall's rumoured 500k bid (I know it won't happen - previous regimes, who knows?) I would kick off big time.

[Bumpkin]

As a sidenote many young fans had Paynter shirts on at Wembley...probably hard earned cash spent for the occasion...how are they feeling right now.

What about the fans who got Jean-Francois on their shirts -- that must cost a whole load more.

Remember BP away at Walsall? On the strength of that performance we probably offered him what he deserved.  I'm sure DW has a 30 goal  season striker up his sleeve.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

I'm sure DW has a 30 goal  season striker up his sleeve.

Let's just hope DW signs him before he goes on holiday this time

(Not that I'm bothered about 'missing out' on Robinson)

[Barry Scott]

There's a great deal of hindsight genius in this thread. This was Paynter's best ever season, if he'd had a 10-15 goal season would we have been able to keep him? Probably. If he'd have had a 10-15 goal season and he left would we be whinging quite so loudly? Unlikely.

Yes not offering him a contract before the season kicked off looks like stupidity now, but at the time were we concerned? Were we screaming for him to have a new contract asap in pre-season or even in October maybe? No. We were once he started scoring; once it was too late. The board don't have better crystal balls than us. Although i think some think they do.

EDIT:

(Not that I'm bothered about 'missing out' on Robinson)

Many were at the time though!

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Correct-a-mundo Barry. It's funny, I'm red hot at 'Deal or No Deal' when I watch it on Channel 4 +1

And yes, I'm sure I was one of the many who was pissed off at missing out on Robinson at the time. Hindsight eh?

[DV]

Were we screaming for him to have a new contract asap in pre-season or even in October maybe? No.

Not quite screaming, but yes....

[trogladite]

As a sidenote many young fans had Paynter shirts on at Wembley...probably hard earned cash spent for the occasion...how are they feeling right now.

What about the fans who got Jean-Francois on their shirts -- that must cost a whole load more.

Remember BP away at Walsall? On the strength of that performance we probably offered him what he deserved.  I'm sure DW has a 30 goal  season striker up his sleeve.

Oh crap.

I wanted to bring the walsall away game into this thread.

He missed a sitter, then missed a penalty before scoreing a penalty.  Up till joining up with Austin he wasn't setting the goals for column alight.

How on earth can we compete with salarys of £8.500 and suvive as a club?

Have faith in AF and DW they'll bust a gut to get an entertaing team for next season.  Could be another gudun.