Argus: Hammond wants to play in Championship

[Withdean Wanderer]

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/arg....0.hammond_holds_fire_on_signing_new_deal.php
Hammond holds fire on signing new deal
By Andy Naylor
Comment

Dean Hammond is holding fire on signing a new contract - because he wants to be convinced of Albion's Championship ambition.

The Seagulls rejected a bid for Hammond from Championship strugglers Colchester earlier this month, The Argus can reveal.

But the skipper's agent, Tim Webb, has assured fans the player has no desire to leave and that it will be the club's choice if the influential midfielder is sold during the January transfer window.
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Hammond's future with the Seagulls in still hanging in the balance. He will be entitled to a free transfer at the end of the season, when his current contract expires, and he refuses to commit to a new deal at this stage.

Webb stressed: "This should not be interpreted as a desire by Dean to leave the club. Dean would like to play in the Championship with Brighton. We cannot, however, determine whether he is able to do that until the end of the season.

"Yes, he is a Bosman and the thought process might be that the agent will just move him on at the end of the season but that is not right because, if Albion get into the Championship and there is further discussion on a contract, I think there is every probability of keeping the player.

"From the player's point of view, there is no reason for him to agree on a new contract today and that is not because he wants to go but simply because he wants to see where Brighton are at the end of the season and what sort of investment Brighton make in players - to see whether they are going to have a good go for the rest of the season and if they go up."

Preliminary negotiations over a new contract for Hammond started in the summer.

Webb said: "A brief discussion took place in August. We followed that up on at least a couple of occasions but there were no further developments until around November time, so there can be no criticism aimed in the player's direction.

"Some while after that first discussion, in October or November, a meeting took place and some figures were put to us. Those figures at that time were not particularly attractive.

"That led to a further period of not much happening and, since a further offer was put to us, we've had an exchange of e-mails.

"Brighton requested a response to this latest offer. Over the period of time there has been one meeting and a couple of e-mail exchanges, so this isn't something where there has been heavy negotiation going on on a day to day basis."

Albion chairman Dick Knight issued an ultimatum, demanding an answer from Webb by last night. Webb, who also represents Hammond's team-mates Alex Revell and Adam Hinshelwood, said: "What Brighton have put to Dean is a situation where they want a decision now.

"If they wish to force the issue that is their prerogative but Dean has not asked to leave the club or said he wants to leave."

Knight was unavailable for comment when The Argus tried to contact him.




Cheerio Dean - Another case of Knight forcing a player out?

 

[bhadeb]

Looks Like Dick Is Issuing Ultimatums Again - Look Where That Got Everyone Before - Great !!!!!

 

[The Large One]

Cheerio Dean - Another case of Knight forcing a player out?

Absolutely NOT.

Why would Dick want to 'force' his own club captain out? What purpose does that serve? If there are 'ultimatums', it's because the club has to consider a whole host of budgets for next season, and Hammond's salary, or even his appearance, is one of those thing to get sorted. It also helps us to know how many more players we can go for in January.

It looks like the agent is very confident of getting Dean a contract with a Championship club in the summer, and would be more attractive to those clubs if they could get him for nothing. It appears from the way that article is written that it's the agent calling the shots - not Hammond.

Of course, what that piece doesn't say is the club's take on this. Just because Knight 'wasn't available for comment' doesn't mean that that story is the whole truth - especially when many of us have heard a particular part of that story that was not mentioned in that text.

 

[bhadeb]

Does this not sound like a story we all heard before christmas though? - it seems to me as if dick dosen't think before he opens his mouth

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Absolutely NOT.

What sort of question is that? Why would Dick want to 'force' his own club captain out?

It looks like the agent is very confident of getting Dean a contract with a Championship club in the summer, and would be more attractive to those clubs if they could get him for nothing. It appears from the way that article is written that it's the agent calling the shots - not Hammond.

Of course, what that piece doesn't say is the club's take on this. Just because Knight 'wasn't available for comment' doesn't mean that that story is the whole truth - especially when many of us have heard a particular part of that story that was not mentioned in that text.

Well, the fact that we rejected a bit for him from Colchester which offers some hope.

BUT:
There's been one meeting, with Hammond/agent thinking the wages offered aren't enough. Since then, a few e-mails - that doesn't sound too much like a chairman desperate to keep him. Especially when you consider we've just signed a similar player on a long-term basis.

We've already seen a cock-up in letting Bas leave, and now George seems to have been forced out. Let's just hope this situation isn't going down a similar route

 

[The Large One]

Does this not sound like a story we all heard before christmas though? - it seems to me as if dick dosen't think before he opens his mouth

Dick hasn't said anything. At least not in that article.

Was he quoted in the Argus or via the club as demanding an answer from Hammond by a given time?

 

[bhadeb]

what about issuing the ultimatum to the agent then - "Albion chairman Dick Knight issued an ultimatum, demanding an answer from Webb by last night" and then he is not available to comment - it looks like a case of stir it up and jump on the next plane back to spain!!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Well, the fact that we rejected a bit for him from Colchester which offers some hope.

Whether or not he would have signed for them is another matter. Not the best team to pick if you wish to play in the Championship, unless he would be happy with 20 games or so and end up back at square one.

I dearly hope he stays, but I am beginning to think that we will see the back of him soon. Certainly the only chance for the agent to make some decent money from his Brighton clients!

 

[The Large One]

Well, the fact that we rejected a bit for him from Colchester which offers some hope.

BUT:
There's been one meeting, with Hammond/agent thinking the wages offered aren't enough. Since then, a few e-mails - that doesn't sound too much like a chairman desperate to keep him. Especially when you consider we've just signed a similar player on a long-term basis.

We've already seen a cock-up in letting Bas leave, and now George seems to have been forced out. Let's just hope this situation isn't going down a similar route

Sorry, what do you mean 'George has been forced out?' Before he opened his brainless gob, who told him to sod off?

And what was the cock-up with Bas? We made an offer (despite his demands of wanting to be the highest paid playuer AND club captain), it sat on the table for two months, he didn't take it.

On the Hammond issue, we have the agent saying there has been one meeting etc., yet he can't even get his dates straight as to when an offer was made. We only have one side of the story here. I'd rather hear the club's side of things before we get into phrases like 'cock-up' and 'forced out'.

 

[Scotty Mac]

hammond wants guarantees of our championship ambitions - id say we looked like a side with championship ambitions until after christmas, when we lost two of our best players

horror of horrors, maybe o'callaghan WAS reflecting the mood within the squad

 

[Barrel of Fun]

what about issuing the ultimatum to the agent then - "Albion chairman Dick Knight issued an ultimatum, demanding an answer from Webb by last night" and then he is not available to comment - it looks like a case of stir it up and jump on the next plane back to spain!!

He wanted an answer to the latest offer, which is fair enough.

As for not available for comment, you have to wonder how hard The Argus tried. No answer means that they can write a follow up with the eventual answer etc. I have a friend who owns a business in Brighton and they actually spoke to The Argus for a good ten minutes or so, but at the end of the article it said 'Not available for comment'. A newspaper should not always be trusted.

 

[The Large One]

what about issuing the ultimatum to the agent then - "Albion chairman Dick Knight issued an ultimatum, demanding an answer from Webb by last night" and then he is not available to comment - it looks like a case of stir it up and jump on the next plane back to spain!!

What about it?

Dick has a club to run, his (arguably) most important player is holding off securing his future here. It leaves some of the club's plans for next season up in the air, not to mention how this is going to affect the rest of the season. Dean's agent is claiming he has been issued with an ultimatum. It's possible Dick has asked for a deadline - that's perfectly acceptable business behaviour.

The fact Dick is not available for comment to the Argus does not mean a great deal, aside from the fact we only have one side of the story.

 

[bhadeb]

yes but ask yourself why dick get the hump with the argus - is it because they print the truth maybe?

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Sorry, what do you mean 'George has been forced out?' Before he opened his brainless gob, who told him to sod off?

And what was the cock-up with Bas? We made an offer (despite his demands of wanting to be the highest paid playuer AND club captain), it sat on the table for two months, he didn't take it.

On the Hammond issue, we have the agent saying there has been one meeting etc., yet he can't even get his dates straight as to when an offer was made. We only have one side of the story here. I'd rather hear the club's side of things before we get into phrases like 'cock-up' and 'forced out'.

Ah, but that's assuming you believe every word Knight says. Just because the agent is an agent, doesn't mean he isn't telling the truth. Similarly, just because Knight is chairman, doesn't mean he IS telling the truth. Personally, i find it more than believable that Savage was offered a hundred quid or so more...which when you consider that we'd have picked him up for bugger all suggests we were VERY tight on that one. I consider it a cock-up, because Forster doesn't seem to score alongside Revell, and we're very short up front (not in numbers, but of players who are good enough).

As for George - well he had a valid point (backed up by tonights story), Knight didn't like it, and now he's not coming back. A shame. If it wasn't for Knight, would we have him back now? I think so

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

He wanted an answer to the latest offer, which is fair enough.

As for not available for comment, you have to wonder how hard The Argus tried. No answer means that they can write a follow up with the eventual answer etc. I have a friend who owns a business in Brighton and they actually spoke to The Argus for a good ten minutes or so, but at the end of the article it said 'Not available for comment'. A newspaper should not always be trusted.

I expect he's probably on a beach in Spain with his mobile turned off

 

[bhadeb]

I expect he's probably on a beach in Spain with his mobile turned off

i think you are about 100% right - or maybe 99% - he possibly is not on the beach !!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I expect he's probably on a beach in Spain with his mobile turned off

Knight out! This doesn't sound too good and I daresay if this does not get resolved then we may be a club in turmoil again. Perhaps the club need to look at themselves and do more for the players, afterall they are not just robots who should be honoured to play for the team.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

i think you are about 100% right - or maybe 99% - he possibly is not on the beach !!

I have a feeling that the Spanish have discovered the telephonic device.

 

[Jim D]

I'd say the club were quite right to set a deadline. The last thing we need is to get to the end of the month without a response - and then find out that he won't sign. We had all that with Harding.

We are a selling club and Hammond is one of our key assets. We can't afford to let him go for nothing.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I guess if Uncle Dick had wanted to piss Hammond off, he would have agreed to Bas's demands to become team captain.

The fact that he resisted that suggests that he still has time for Dean Hammond.