Argus: Hammond wants to play in Championship

[tip top]

From what you are saying it seems like that they are not happy about some of Wilkins' selections or transfers then?

Not DW's.

His hands are very much tied.

I hope it all works out in the longrun.

 

[Southover Street Seagull]

Not DW's.

His hands are very much tied.

I hope it all works out in the longrun.

I hope it works out too, sounds like from what you are saying is that they are not happy with another directors transfer dealings then?

 

[tip top]

DW is a 2/3 div manager learning his trade.

He is not THE manager to take us to Falmer.

Too many supporters are wrapped in the past with Deano.

When DK steps aside, I hope he does the sensible thing and sells out!!

That's the only way foward for BHA.

 

[Zebedee]

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

Indeed.

 

[SeagullEd]

I remain confident that Deano will stay. Perhaps it is an issue of him being worried about our ambitions but hopefully DK can reassure him! We gave him a big chance so hopefully he'll stick.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

DW is a 2/3 div manager learning his trade.

He is not THE manager to take us to Falmer.

Too many supporters are wrapped in the past with Deano.

When DK steps aside, I hope he does the sensible thing and sells out!!

That's the only way foward for BHA.

Funny, I've been led to believe that the reason DW is in the job is because of the Bloom's. So are you telling us that the Blooms got McGhee the sack so as to appoint DW and now they want DW out. Or are you simply stirring the shit. DK will retire after we get to Falmer, possibly before depending on his health.

 

[Wozza]

We won't climb the leagues until we have serious investments.

No shit!

But we're unlikely to get serious investment until Falmer is built - can't blame DK for that.

No-one can run a Championship side with 7000-capacity ground and a fickle fan-base.

 

[keaton]

If this was a random player with another club, i think most people here would be saying the player clearly had an ego and ideas above his ability, trying to screw over his team and get a move.

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

If Dean wants to play in the Championship then fair enough, you can't blame him for that.

Given that it's unlikely to be with us next season I think we should sell him now. At least then we could re-invest it in the team.

 

[The Large One]

Chaps, DH and the rest of the TIGHT squad have been restless for a long time as I have said previously.

The whole team/club is in turmoil.

It will take 3-8 Years to sort the shit out.

DK will NEVER recoup what he's invested.

Good to see your finger is on the pulse.

 

[Easy 10]

I've not ploughed through this whole thread, but its clear that Hammond and his agent are playing the Bosman system here. Hammond has Championship ambitions, he's very unlikely to achieve that in the short term at the Albion, so unless the contract offer was ridiculous, he was never going to sign. Once the clock starts ticking on the contract negotiations, he's on a win/win and has us over a barrel - either the club breaks the bank to keep him (in relative terms), or he's a free agent in the summer and can command a healthy signing on fee from his new club, which they'll happily pay as they've picked him up for nothing. Its exactly what happened with Sol Campbell when he left Spurs.

He's played the system and will come up smelling of roses whatever happens. I suppose we'd all do the same, he's just looking after number one. But it does leave a bit of a sour taste, and its a shame a local lad is effectively stiffing his club, the club that gave him his chance, out of any transfer fee we'd have got for him. We're in a position now where we'll probably have to accept almost any offer that comes in for him now.

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

This situation has all the hallmarks of 'Harding Gate' for me. His agent is probably already putting the feelers out for a new club for Dean.

 

[Napper]

from that I read that Hammond wants the championship next season whatever !

 

[Seagullible]

The club HAVE made an offer, it's up to the agent to get back and say if it's acceptable or not. If they don't say anything, what the F is DK supposed to do. Agents are all in it for money and they make their money on players moving clubs. Now it's not rocket science. The agent appears to be saying stuff to our local wind up mischief maker to make the club look bad and the player a saint. I don't want Hammond to go but if he wants to stay so much, why can't he say what he wants and then negotiate, the ball is in his court

 

[BUTTERBALL]

I think we should sell him. I don't see that we have much choice. It is clear he won't sign and we risk losing him for nothing.

If Deano wants Championship football, he needs to become more consistent.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

I am really unsure on this one because I believe Hammond is a massive player for us. On the other hand, it is better to sell him now than lose him in the summer for free. If he is really only going to stay if we are in the Championship, then we should probably sell as promotion is unlikely.

 

[The Large One]

I've not ploughed through this whole thread, but its clear that Hammond and his agent are playing the Bosman system here. Hammond has Championship ambitions, he's very unlikely to achieve that in the short term at the Albion, so unless the contract offer was ridiculous, he was never going to sign. Once the clock starts ticking on the contract negotiations, he's on a win/win and has us over a barrel - either the club breaks the bank to keep him (in relative terms), or he's a free agent in the summer and can command a healthy signing on fee from his new club, which they'll happily pay as they've picked him up for nothing. Its exactly what happened with Sol Campbell when he left Spurs.

He's played the system and will come up smelling of roses whatever happens. I suppose we'd all do the same, he's just looking after number one. But it does leave a bit of a sour taste, and its a shame a local lad is effectively stiffing his club, the club that gave him his chance, out of any transfer fee we'd have got for him. We're in a position now where we'll probably have to accept almost any offer that comes in for him now.

100% agree.

I don't think anyone really minds him looking out for himself - I do believe there is a small element of 'Hammond could show a bit of loyalty', but that's not really the issue. It is a shame he's decided to go down this route, especially after the years and effort we've put in for him (perhaps he feels he has already repaid it), but this is always a risk in such a small club as ours.

 

[Row Z Creased Shirt]

If Hammond really has no intention of signing until the summer, then we should accept the first decent offer we get. Whilst I think he is an ok player, he s far too inconsistent to be regarded as a player we should jeopardise the rest of the squad for.

By getting in Thomson I think the club has shown some ambition and also got in a player superior to the Irish league-bound gobshite O'C. The irony is that Thomson seems to be the perfect foil for Hammond, a tough reliable player that would enable him to play more freely in the middle of the park. I hope Hammond stays, but he only has to look at the recent experience of O'C and Bas to see that grass is not always greener.

And for those who bemoan the lack of investment we have now added quality to the team this season with the permanent signings of Forster, Whing and Thomson and secured the services of Richards for the remainder of the year aswell. If we can add two more players to that then we would have done extremely well this yeat.

 

[Simster]

Sounds like he's definitely off then. The way I see it is Hammond, through being made captain and having a decent season last season, believes he is a championship player. Personally I don't think he is, but good luck to him, he's got a bit of ambition, and I like that. The club have presumably got him on a fairly low wage at the moment (his last contract was signed when he wasn't a regular, let alone captain), and are baulking at the huge increase he'll undoubtedly be asking for. To be fair, he probably has a case. I wouldn't say he should be the highest paid player, but as captain he deserves to be up there. So, we have a situation where a player who thinks he is championship class is asking for a decent wage in order to stay in league one, and the league one club don't have the money and, possibly, don't rate him as highly as he rates himself. I think the key bit is "Hammond wants to play in the championship, but will wait and see if that's possible with Brighton." If we're honest, the chances of us making the play-offs are slim unless we sign 2 more players. Even if we did get in them, the chances of winning them are only 1 in 4. As things stand, the chances of us being a championship club next season must be about 5%. He's not going to sign up under those circumstances, and if his agent can get him a championship club (even if it is a rubbish one) then he won't sign in the summer. Good luck to him for having ambition and belief, but I don't want us to break the bank for him as I believe he could be replaced quite easily.

Completely agree.

 

[Les Biehn]

I also agree.