Dave, to someone earning a wage that Greer probably does, with an early thirities retirement age with no guarantee of future employment, an "extra 500 quid a month or whatever" for a few years could make an enormous difference to his children. Maybe he decided to put this ahead of his personal glory - this would make him more of a man, not less, in my eyes.
Spot on. Greer leaves with my thanks, and a sincere hope that he doesn't come back to haunt us. I'm 8 years older than he is, but my career in finance is likely to last at least another 25 years, while his as a footballer will probably last another 5.
Paul D's 'let's get out the pitchforks comments' made me laugh, because
(a) it was apt/witty; and
(b) I love the idea of a scouser gone native in Wiltshire. Good work!