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Re: Contracts

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 12:34 pm
by slappy
Did I read that Eales is going to sit down with Appleton today and talk budgets?

Also some interesting comments on season ticket and match day prices in the chairman's programme notes.

"We are also close to announcing next season's season ticket prices after a lengthy process of review and discussion, especially using Football League data as a starting point for where our prices and structure presently benchmark.

Personally I find this a difficult judgement call as I want fans to have competitively priced football but I also have to be realistic that if we have play-off ambitions, we do need to continue to invest in the squad and, of course, we do not have the benefit of owning our own stadium."

Ours have hardly increased since we were in the Conference, and barring terrace tickets, our East Stand adult tickets are some of the cheapest around. I hope they keep the cheaper prices for young adults and full time students. However with the ground nearly selling out on several occasions in the last three years, I don't think the club can have really big discounts to attract more ST sales like Bradford / Huddersfield.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 6:07 pm
by YF Dan
Old Abingdonian wrote:In his post-match interview, MApp indicated he would like Martinez next season, and that Carroll's long-term destination was midfield. He also sounded positive about Ribeiro.

What do we think will happen with those ooc? I have little doubt that Maguire will hang about for as long as possible in the shop window, and it's anyone's guess whether a bigger / more northerly club will be tempted.

Loans: Raglan
McAleny
Edwards

Contracts expiring:
Sercombe
Dunkley.

My instinct would be to offer a deal to Raglan, and let the rest go. Thoughts?
I think we'd be insane not to offer Dunkley a new contract.

By all means find another, better central defender but given the rumored interest in Nelson, we need to keep players of his quality in the squad.

His improvement over the past two seasons has been staggering.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 6:47 pm
by slappy
I saw a newspaper clip last week saying dunkley had turned down a contract offer and was being tracked by Rotherham. Possibly why he was on the bench last three games. Also seeing the speed of the Bradford forwards they would have ripped him for pace and he'd either be sent off or they'd score going past him.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:21 am
by Dr Bob
slappy wrote:I saw a newspaper clip last week saying dunkley had turned down a contract offer and was being tracked by Rotherham. Possibly why he was on the bench last three games. Also seeing the speed of the Bradford forwards they would have ripped him for pace and he'd either be sent off or they'd score going past him.
Dunno about the transfer rumours, but I have had the impression for a few games now that he, more than most, has become extremely tired mentally at the end of a long season. His positioning and general awareness had definitely dropped away. If he wants to leave, that would be disappointing, but would make the signing of Raglan even more important.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:17 pm
by Radley Rambler
Dr Bob wrote:
slappy wrote:I saw a newspaper clip last week saying dunkley had turned down a contract offer and was being tracked by Rotherham. Possibly why he was on the bench last three games. Also seeing the speed of the Bradford forwards they would have ripped him for pace and he'd either be sent off or they'd score going past him.
Dunno about the transfer rumours, but I have had the impression for a few games now that he, more than most, has become extremely tired mentally at the end of a long season. His positioning and general awareness had definitely dropped away. If he wants to leave, that would be disappointing, but would make the signing of Raglan even more important.
For me Chey has shown huge improvement in the past 18 months but the last couple have been very shaky. For me, it's offer him the same or slightly improved terms (they're unlikely to be great given we plucked him from non-league) and see if he develops further or stagnates.

If we are serious about promotion next season, then I think he is cover and we need another Nelson-esque type of centre back.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:44 pm
by Kairdiff Exile
Thoughts on us extending Sercombe's contract so we can command a fee for him in the summer? Lots of people making out that it's a mercenary move on our part, but to be honest, I don't see it. If it works, he gets a move and we get some £££ - if it doesn't, he gets another year of wages at OUFC and him and MApp may find a way to kiss and make up. Without knowing what's caused the strife, he's clearly going nowhere in the side at the moment, but things can change.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:20 pm
by Old Abingdonian
Agreed - why wave goodbye to ??£200,000

I've no idea about what has gone on, but reading between the lines, is the situation that Sercs has not apologised (to MApp, or possibly to team mates was well?)

It's a bit odd, because App usually handles incidents keeps things tighter than this.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:21 pm
by Kernow Yellow
Would we really get anywhere near £200k for a player who's been on the fringes of a mid-table League 1 side? I can't see it.

I like Sercs a lot as a player, but if we're really not going to use him for the foreseeable future then I don't see why we don't just let him go. Seems like Appleton is properly pissed off with him and is now going to make his life as difficult as possible.

Also, I don't understand this quote in the BBC Sport article:

"Appleton is also not guaranteeing new contracts in the summer for players he intends to keep next season.

"I know that sometimes putting an offer in front of some people isn't the best thing to do," he told BBC Radio Oxford."

How could it ever be best not to offer contracts to the players you intend to keep??

Re: Contracts

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 4:03 pm
by Radley Rambler
Kernow Yellow wrote:Would we really get anywhere near £200k for a player who's been on the fringes of a mid-table League 1 side? I can't see it.

I like Sercs a lot as a player, but if we're really not going to use him for the foreseeable future then I don't see why we don't just let him go. Seems like Appleton is properly pissed off with him and is now going to make his life as difficult as possible.

Also, I don't understand this quote in the BBC Sport article:

"Appleton is also not guaranteeing new contracts in the summer for players he intends to keep next season.

"I know that sometimes putting an offer in front of some people isn't the best thing to do," he told BBC Radio Oxford."

How could it ever be best not to offer contracts to the players you intend to keep??
Yes - i thought that was odd too. I think we need to be a bit more direct with some players this close season though. Assuming we offer McAleny and McGuire terms, then that should come with an early deadline for acceptance otherwise we are left in a difficult and uncertain position at the club. We are less reliant on signing a Mcguire-type of player now as the rest of the squad has improved and so can be a bit more demanding of the players. We are also a better prospect than last year - a team who has a very good second half of the season in League 1 with an improving young squad and (Sercombe apart) a good team ethos.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 4:39 pm
by slappy
Kernow Yellow wrote:Would we really get anywhere near £200k for a player who's been on the fringes of a mid-table League 1 side? I can't see it.

I like Sercs a lot as a player, but if we're really not going to use him for the foreseeable future then I don't see why we don't just let him go. Seems like Appleton is properly pissed off with him and is now going to make his life as difficult as possible.

Also, I don't understand this quote in the BBC Sport article:

"Appleton is also not guaranteeing new contracts in the summer for players he intends to keep next season.

"I know that sometimes putting an offer in front of some people isn't the best thing to do," he told BBC Radio Oxford."

How could it ever be best not to offer contracts to the players you intend to keep??
There was an interview a few months back where Appleton said there was no point offering Maguire a new contract in February or March because he'll just sit on it. There's a theory that he likes a few extra week's holiday so that's why he didn't sign last year until I think the first day of the pre-season tour.

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/omspo ... _to_worry/

Re: Contracts

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 3:15 pm
by GodalmingYellow
Lundstram is ooc at the end of the season, although the club have a 1 year option, and I can't imagine they wouldn't implement it. Surely the club will try to offer a longer deal.

Martinez should definitely be signed if we are able to do so. His improvement in his short time with us has been excellent.

Sercombe is ooc and like Lundstram we have a 1 year option. Taking up the option is a risk on the expense of his wages for a year versus potential smallish transfer fee. Not worth the risk to have an unhappy player on the books, and he has apparently been seen back at Exeter City. But if things can be properly patched up with MApp (I heard the argument was about Sercombe having a go at MApp for team selection at Wembley) then he is worth hanging onto as a back up central midfielder. He's no better than Lundstram, Ruffels, or Ledson imho.

MApp has said that Mags will be at OUFC next season if Mags wants to be, but he isn't going to offer him an early contract knowing that he won't get an early signature, whatever conditions are placed on the deal. That's fair enough. I would like to see Mags sign a 2 year deal, rather than keeping his options open each year, which suggests lack of commitment.

I would love to think we would be able to sign McAleny on a long term deal. For the last 2 months he has been the outstanding player at the club. As long a deal as possible.

Buchel is ooc in the summer, but I think that ship has already sailed.

Sam Long is another yet to be signed up for next season. He's a useful backup utility player if his wages aren't too high. I doubt he is good enough long term for L1 though.

Raglan we should definitely sign. He's a better player than Dunkley, and Nelson has turned out to be the best of the lot. Give Raglan a 2 year deal.

Robbie Cundy is ooc and given his long term loans this last season, I suspect non-league beckons for him. Ditto Jordan Graham.

Chey has tailed off badly in the last few months. He's good in the air, but on the ground he is some way short and his decision making is laboured. We should only re-sign him if MApp believes he can improve further. If the rumours of refusing a new contract are true, then let him go.

Jack Stevens is ooc, but will surely get a 2 year deal.

Myles Welch-Hayes is another ooc, and fringe player. Has several positions and is young and very athletic. He should get a 1 year deal.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 3:29 pm
by Old Abingdonian
I can't be bothered to find the OM link, but Long signed a new contract a few weeks ago.

I generally agree with all of this. Maguire put himself in the shop window quite publicly last summer, and there seem to have been no better offers. Perhaps the same will happen this year.

Raglan has looked class. Goodness knows why the Spirits put him out on loan...

Re: Contracts

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 3:49 pm
by slappy
Martinez has still got two years of a three year deal to go at West Ham, and as he cost £2million +, I can't see us getting to sign him, although possibly another six month loan?

McAleny is I understand out of contract at Everton this summer. Would he sign a new deal there and come back on loan? At 24/25 his getting a bit past if for making their first team squad now, so is a potential signing, but he may well have his sights set higher or we may not be able to afford the wages. I feel he may be better off doing a Roofe and getting a full season under his belt before making the move up.

Perhaps the bigger question is whether Mapp will be happy with his squad budget for next year. I feel we have outperformed this year and of course have ended up just short of the play-offs. Will we have a top 6 budget next year? And if we do, have we any realistic plans for what might happen if we did reach the Championship?

Re: Contracts

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 4:55 pm
by GodalmingYellow
Yes, I was assuming loan for Martinez.

With DE going through an expensive divorce or so I am told, its not surprising he is looking to share out or ship out his funding of the club. I get the feeling he is hooked to OUFC though, so I hope he is looking for investors rather than buyers. And it is the answer to this question which may determine if we have a playing budget to enable us to compete for a top berth next season.

Interesting to see that on the recent Companies House filings, Lenagan has written off most of the monies owed to Woodstock Partners. Presumably this was part of the deal when DE took over. It saves Eales about £3m, but the debt to his corporate group has still increased, and the club's losses have continued to rise. This should improve in the 2017 accounts following the sale of Roofe and O'Dowda.

Re: Contracts

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:05 pm
by GodalmingYellow
Old Abingdonian wrote:I can't be bothered to find the OM link, but Long signed a new contract a few weeks ago.

I generally agree with all of this. Maguire put himself in the shop window quite publicly last summer, and there seem to have been no better offers. Perhaps the same will happen this year.

Raglan has looked class. Goodness knows why the Spirits put him out on loan...
Thanks re Long. He has indeed signed a new 1 year deal.