Argus: Hammond wants to play in Championship

[Seagullible]

First, the word is 'imply', not 'infer'.

Secondly, you're right, none of the statements by Hammond's agent were derogatory, nor for that matter, were they necessarily incorrect, even though not all of the story is being told here. Nor does Dick's statement about heads and pistols seem derogatory. No-one is insulting anyone here.

My point is, nothing has ever been gained by going public with the story. For a start, it's no-one else's business. It makes you wonder why the agent went public with it. For me, Dick isn't getting defensive, he is merely stating (with an albeit glib remark) what he has always said - he won't pay over the top for anyone. He was asked for a comment, and gave one.

I would also add that the agent says the club have not been banging down the dorr but if Hammond was so keen to stay, surely he and his agent would not leave things unsaid for ages, they would be fighting to talk to DK to get things ironed out and negotiate. It's a two way street

 

[The Large One]

Fair points, Easy. But I'm hearing it (Hammond's desire to stay) from people at the club as well.

You're spot on about one thing - if he did (or does) want to stay, he would sign up. The only thing I can think of about that - as I said earlier - was that he wants to stay provided we're in the Championship...

 

[Perry Milkins]

As many have said most of us would do the same thing and we should respect his freedom to do so. It would give him greater credibility if he did'nt (or his Agent didn't) bang on about wanting to stay). His (or his agent's) terms to stay quite clearly filter us out of the equation.

His loyalty to the club is the matter in question.

 

[Djmiles]

It would give him greater credibility if he did'nt (or his Agent didn't) bang on about wanting to stay)

Do you not know how NSC works?

If he even HINTED that he didn't want to say, he would be burned alive by a fair majority of this board.

 

[Scotty Mac]

not selling him in this window in the hope that we get promoted and he signs a new deal could prove to be a very foolish thing to do come the end of the day

 

[The Oldman]

I didnt hear that but I guess its par for the course for DK.

I would suggest that he is at a critical point in negotiations and the Chairman comes out and says an emotive phrase 'he will not act with a pistol at his head'.

Now of course he might get a lot of hoorays from some on here, putting player and agent in his place and all that.

But it has not helped one little bit, in fact it might now ensure that Hammond leaves.

Any chance of a quiet, private and a more inclusive negotiation rather than the them and us mentality, which inevitabley concludes with a player leaving our club.

But it's the agent who has gone public via Naylor. Dick Knight is put on the back foot and is asked to respond in public. All the upsets of the past few weeks have been caused by players or agents going public.

 

[Perry Milkins]

Do you not know how NSC works?

Nope. Suggest you PM Bozza.

 

[Easy 10]

Fair points, Easy. But I'm hearing it (Hammond's desire to stay) from people at the club as well.

You're spot on about one thing - if he did (or does) want to stay, he would sign up. The only thing I can think of about that - as I said earlier - was that he wants to stay provided we're in the Championship...

Meh. Lip service. Heard it all before from a thousand different players at a hundred different clubs. He's not going to willingly upset the applecart here by saying he wants out. Why would he ? He's obviously got a great deal of affection for the Albion, after all he's been here since he was a kid. But actions speak louder than words.

Even if (by some freak chance) we did somehow stumble our way up to the Championship like we did in 2004, do you think Hammond would turn down a move to (for example) Wolves if they came knocking on Hammonds door waving a Bosman-type lump sum signing on fee and a three year deal ? Can't see it. That'd be his house sorted for starters.

Players need to move, its where they make their money. And 25 year olds wouldn't pass up an opportunity of transferring to a bigger club, even if they happen to be in the same division. The Championships got nothing to do with it, whether we're in that league or not next season. Hammond just wants a club of greater stature which "matches his ambitions" and all that.

 

[Perry Milkins]

Meh. Lip service. Heard it all before from a thousand different players at a hundred different clubs. He's not going to willingly upset the applecart here by saying he wants out. Why would he ? He's obviously got a great deal of affection for the Albion, after all he's been here since he was a kid. But actions speak louder than words.

Even if (by some freak chance) we did somehow stumble our way up to the Championship like we did in 2004, do you think Hammond would turn down a move to (for example) Wolves if they came knocking on Hammonds door waving a Bosman-type lump sum signing on fee and a three year deal ? Can't see it. That'd be his house sorted for starters.

Players need to move, its where they make their money. And 25 year olds wouldn't pass up an opportunity of transferring to a bigger club, even if they happen to be in the same division. The Championships got nothing to do with it, whether we're in that league or not next season. Hammond just wants a club of greater stature which "matches his ambitions" and all that.

Which is why a bit more honesty would help his case. There is too much feignining of euphoric gesturing by players these days (badge kissing etc).

I am not suggesting he go public by saying 'I want to go as Brighton is a shit clube and I am on shit wages' perhaps 'I hope the club and supporters realise that footballers have a short career span and I need to look at the best options for me'.

 

[The Oldman]

From the BBC


Brighton reject bid for skipper
Brighton have turned down a bid from an unnamed Championship club for their captain Dean Hammond.
Albion say they might now have to sell the midfielder during the transfer window to avoid him leaving on a free.

Chairman Dick Knight told BBC Southern Counties: "We want him to stay. We've moved heaven and earth to keep him, but the club will not be held to ransom."

Hammond, who is highly rated by manager Dean Wilkins, could leave the Seagulls for nothing in the summer.

Knight added: "He must make a decision by the end of this month or we will not get a penny for him. If we don't hear very soon, we will have no option but to make him available for transfer if he's not prepared to sign."

 

[Storer68]

Originally Posted by Jim D
The other piece in the article that I find quite ominous is the way the agent is going over and over about Hammond not wanting to leave and not asking for to leave. This is obviously an attempt to position Hammond to collect on whatever options will be available should a transfer take place (ie a percentage of the money). I believe that if he asks for a transfer then he forfeits these things.

I think you'll find that agent's costs/fees in transfers now have to be taken out of the player's salary rather than a percentage of the fee.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

From the BBC


Brighton reject bid for skipper
Brighton have turned down a bid from an unnamed Championship club for their captain Dean Hammond.
Albion say they might now have to sell the midfielder during the transfer window to avoid him leaving on a free.

Chairman Dick Knight told BBC Southern Counties: "We want him to stay. We've moved heaven and earth to keep him, but the club will not be held to ransom."

Hammond, who is highly rated by manager Dean Wilkins, could leave the Seagulls for nothing in the summer.

Knight added: "He must make a decision by the end of this month or we will not get a penny for him. If we don't hear very soon, we will have no option but to make him available for transfer if he's not prepared to sign."

For me that piece is confirmation that he WILL leave in th next few days, unless he backs down. That imo, is the club going out of their way to advertise the fact that he is now available, and that they are open to offers.

 

[Storer68]

No he can't. He's under contract till June, he can go for nothing from June onwards. If he doesn't move in January then we will "have his services" till the end of this season.

Whether we'd want that from a player who has engineered himself a bozzie is a moot point, but I guess we wouldn't cut off our noses to spite our face by not playingt him.

I agree though - if we're offered a fee for him now, then its a bit of a no-brainer, we'd have to accept it.

I think the chairman agrees with me here

Knight added: "He must make a decision by the end of this month or we will not get a penny for him. If we don't hear very soon, we will have no option but to make him available for transfer if he's not prepared to sign."

 

[Napper]

Knight saying he wont be held to ransom suggests that Hammond isnt happy with the offer and the championship talk is all spin.

If so then DK won't back down aka Savage etc

 

[Easy 10]

I think the chairman agrees with me here

Knight added: "He must make a decision by the end of this month or we will not get a penny for him. If we don't hear very soon, we will have no option but to make him available for transfer if he's not prepared to sign."

The point is, once we're out of January, he can't transfer anywhere until the summer when his contract expires. If a transfer isn't agreed this month, then he cannot go from 1st February, which is what you were saying in your original post. He'd have to wait till June when, indeed, we wouldn't get a penny for him.

 

[BigGully]

Sorry BigGully, you have missed my point completely.

I am COMPLETELY neutral on this subject because I know very little of the facts. As I said before, if and when I do know the facts I will come down on one side or the other..or neither..or both!

I have never said that people should not air their views and of course it's an open forum. What I don't like is when people state their views as facts and use them to make unfounded judgements and criticisms.

Your critical views may be absolutely correct. I simply don't know. But what I don't understand is some people's desire to criticise when they have no idea if they are right or not.

But dont want to persist too much with this but you said It is a very dangerous and irresponsible game to play and I am glad we are not doing that. your undoubted view is that you feel that Brighton could not afford this player, some other peoples view is that some beleive they could of afforded it.

That my friend is NOT neutral its your view which is different to mine.

 

[Storer68]

The point is, once we're out of January, he can't transfer anywhere until the summer when his contract expires. If a transfer isn't agreed this month, then he cannot go from 1st February, which is what you were saying in your original post. He'd have to wait till June when, indeed, we wouldn't get a penny for him.

Who ares?

he will be off and we will be shafted......................

 

[Easy 10]

Who ares?

he will be off and we will be shafted......................

Damn straight.

 

[Perry Milkins]

So we are shafted. Should we have offered hinm an extension to his contract last season? Would that have put us in a better bargaining position with more commercial leverage?

 

[BigGully]

First, the word is 'imply', not 'infer'.

Secondly, you're right, none of the statements by Hammond's agent were derogatory, nor for that matter, were they necessarily incorrect, even though not all of the story is being told here. Nor does Dick's statement about heads and pistols seem derogatory. No-one is insulting anyone here.

My point is, nothing has ever been gained by going public with the story. For a start, it's no-one else's business. It makes you wonder why the agent went public with it. For me, Dick isn't getting defensive, he is merely stating (with an albeit glib remark) what he has always said - he won't pay over the top for anyone. He was asked for a comment, and gave one.

If he always says it, why does he find the need to say it again ?

If you are in negotiations with a player there is no need to tell all and sundry that he will not be held to ransom, it is unhelpful and is likely to be seen by the player as a spiteful comment.

Lets put it this way you dont say it if you want to hang on to the player.

Ultimately the Chairman has the option to sign Hammond on favourable terms or not.

But Knight always gets defensive did you not notice his reposte to the team and O'Callaghan after the Millwall game.

He is at best clumsy and at worst incompitent when it comes with dealing with players contracts.