Argus: Hammond wants to play in Championship

[NMH]

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.

Hmm, tough one TLO, but if you were a player in his position you would look at the league and know that ALL players come from some clubs' youth system, and they don't all stay at their first club. The whole league is a 'learning ground' for players - and loyalty to club is only recommended until self-interest eclipses the shirt colours.

In Hammond's case, he's reached a contract juncture, and at a time in his career that he looks at as 'make or break'. Aligned with club fortunes, he'd probably LOVE for BHA to get promotion - but no matter how much belief he - and the club - might have in that as an eventuality, it's not assured. Like Shakespeare wrote;- ambition is made of stern stuff. NMH writes, that it's sterner than just turning up and doing a job, it's added strength when the eyes are always looking beyond where you are, to an ever higher prize.

Hard facts are; he's not enigmatic or 'mercurial' enough to have the upper echelon of the English league hammering down the door to get him, and the unknown might hold horrible spells in some club's reserves, and living in a crap area of the country. Or, alternatively he could be the next Barry - but neither scenario is etched clearly enough to know one way or another.

Personal opinion - he and the club should agree on a reasonably SHORT contract, with get-out clauses in the player's favour, or simply agree for the lad to be a free agent in the summer. Hammond has cemented his repute WITH the fans and BHAFC, and in honour of that, both parties ought to set an example to the rest of the squad (and the fans, actually) by exhibiting faith.... by focusing 100% on getting promotion. That should be the number one investment for everyone.

 

[Easy 10]

If Hammond IS still here in February (effectively to run his contract down so he goes for nothing in the summer), then I think he should be stripped of the captaincy immediately. I don't see why a player who wants OUT should captain the side. In fact, take it off him now.

He was a rubbish captain anyway.

 

[clippedgull]

Originally Posted by The Complete Badger View Post
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.

Pretty good summary.

As for your last sentence. Steve Thomson is in place and a better all round midfielder with vocal qualities which have been severely lacking this season.

Posted by Easy 10:

f Hammond IS still here in February (effectively to run his contract down so he goes for nothing in the summer), then I think he should be stripped of the captaincy immediately. I don't see why a player who wants OUT should captain the side. In fact, take it off him now.

He was a rubbish captain anyway.

Another sensible post.

 

[Djmiles]

If we can get a decent price for him, sell him now and save the money for a player in the Summer so we can mount a SERIOUS bid on promotion next season.

Yes he is an influencial player, but with Thomson now in the squad I think we can sell him off for say £250k, rather than having him for 20 games before he buggers off on a free.

That's the question really, would Albion fans rather have Hammond for 20 games, or £250k in the kitty? I think I know what I would have.

 

[BensGrandad]

In my opinion we should be looking at using this as the bait to achieve Championship status and be looking to secure Hammonds services. he is certainly not the best but he rarely lets us down and I know which one out of him or DK I would rather have run out on the first day at Falmer. In 5 years time when it is completed he will still only be 29 with years of experience.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

If we can get a decent price for him, sell him now and save the money for a player in the Summer so we can mount a SERIOUS bid on promotion next season.

Yes he is an influencial player, but with Thomson now in the squad I think we can sell him off for say £250k, rather than having him for 20 games before he buggers off on a free.

That's the question really, would Albion fans rather have Hammond for 20 games, or £250k in the kitty? I think I know what I would have.

1 player? Serious bid for promotion? From League 2 next year maybe!

I fail to see how the same people who are saying that a mediocre side like us can do without Hammond think that a manager somewhere is going to pay as much as 250k for a player they can have for FREE in 6 months time.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

If we can get a decent price for him, sell him now and save the money for a player in the Summer so we can mount a SERIOUS bid on promotion next season.

Yes he is an influencial player, but with Thomson now in the squad I think we can sell him off for say £250k, rather than having him for 20 games before he buggers off on a free.

That's the question really, would Albion fans rather have Hammond for 20 games, or £250k in the kitty? I think I know what I would have.

If it really were that kind of figure, then there would be no contest. In reality we would be lucky to get £100k because of his contract situation. We need to assess whether his contribution to the side between now and the summer is worth that, plus his wages.

Don't overlook the fact though, that he himself would have to agree to his being sold. He may well not do, even if an offer comes in from a championship club that is acceptable to DK. From Hammond's own perspective, if he moves now, the club might get £100k. If he waits till the summer, there will be a bigger signing on fee in it for him personally.

Put yourself in his shoes.

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

If there was an Ultimatum put to Hammond then that is purely the club safeguarding their investment. If he doesnt sign he goes for nothing and that would lose the club somewhere in the region of £400000. If he isnt going to sign then its best to get some money for him now or lose him for nothing at the end of the season

I really do believe that Hammond wants to stay and my disdain for agents has been well documented previously. I can understand Deano's ambition and believe he is capable of playing at a higher level. I only hope that he is playing at that higher level with us

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

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

It does seem that way

 

[ryans father]

If there was an Ultimatum put to Hammond then that is purely the club safeguarding their investment. If he doesnt sign he goes for nothing and that would lose the club somewhere in the region of £400000. If he isnt going to sign then its best to get some money for him now or lose him for nothing at the end of the season

I really do believe that Hammond wants to stay and my disdain for agents has been well documented previously. I can understand Deano's ambition and believe he is capable of playing at a higher level. I only hope that he is playing at that higher level with us

100% agree with this

 

[ATFC Seagull]

If there was an Ultimatum put to Hammond then that is purely the club safeguarding their investment. If he doesnt sign he goes for nothing and that would lose the club somewhere in the region of £400000. If he isnt going to sign then its best to get some money for him now or lose him for nothing at the end of the season

I really do believe that Hammond wants to stay and my disdain for agents has been well documented previously. I can understand Deano's ambition and believe he is capable of playing at a higher level. I only hope that he is playing at that higher level with us

400k

Am I the only person that thinks we would be, even if he had 3 years to go, looking at no more than 100k?

 

[Djmiles]

1 player? Serious bid for promotion? From League 2 next year maybe!

Well maybe not just 1 player

 

[Djmiles]

400k

Am I the only person that thinks we would be, even if he had 3 years to go, looking at no more than 100k?

Probably not, but I reckon he is worth more than £100k, even though he has 6 months left on his contract.

 

[BensGrandad]

I would think that DK would snap anybodys hands off if they offered anything near £100k.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

Probably not, but I reckon he is worth more than £100k, even though he has 6 months left on his contract.

Not sure about that. I'm not putting Hammond down, I do rate him and his contribution to this team (Mansfield, 80 minutes of Oldham and Huddersfield without him were among our most miserable performances this year), but looking at the market I really don't think that he's a player clubs would spend far into 3 figures for, unless theres a club with blank cheques (Leeds?).

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Relax everyone. Hammond aint going anywhere, for one simple reason.

He aint f***ing good enough!!

His agent is trying to get as much money for him as possible. He'll sign a contract in the summer, when he discovers thats all he as on offer.

I would like to think he will learn from Bas Savage and O'Callaghan's experience. We agreed a fee for O'Callaghan, but only got him on loan because he wanted too bigger contract. Now he's goiong home to play in the Irish league!! Big bad Bas, thought he was better than he is (mind you doesn't have to think very highly of himself) and where is he now. He''ll end up at some conference club in Febraury, just to earn a wage for the rest of the year.

Hopefully Hammond will have a think, and reliase he's not the player his agent thinks he is, and will sign what's on offer. Agents don't work for the players interest, they look after number one, so of course he's going to get Hammond to wait, becuase the agent knows, if Hammond don't sign now, he can in the summer, but if he waits, theres an outside chance that he'll earn a little more commission.

AS I said before, I'm not Dick Knight's number one fan, but with regards to Hammond, Savage, and O'Callaghan I think he's right to let them go.

I agree with most of that apart from Hammond not being good enough, I think his agent is building Hammond up as some sort of superstar - which he clearly isnt - but I do think he could do a job in the Championship for a number of clubs.

Saying that I would not break the bank for him at this late stage due to the fact there will be better players on free's in the summer.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

If there was an Ultimatum put to Hammond then that is purely the club safeguarding their investment. If he doesnt sign he goes for nothing and that would lose the club somewhere in the region of £400000. If he isnt going to sign then its best to get some money for him now or lose him for nothing at the end of the season

I really do believe that Hammond wants to stay and my disdain for agents has been well documented previously. I can understand Deano's ambition and believe he is capable of playing at a higher level. I only hope that he is playing at that higher level with us

Its easy to blame the agent, but if the player wants to sign he will sign, simple really.

 

[Mendoza]

Hammond has been my favourite player over the last few seasons, and i believe he wants to stay.

If he does chose to leave I hope it doesnt backfire, and he ends up in lower leagues. Here he got everything, a decent wage, friends in the team, a manager who believes in him, club captaincy, the team built around him - but if he thinks he can further himself so be it.

I just think it could end up being a Savage situation where he ends up with no club and has talks with Conference teams to try and restart his career, when he could have had it good with us

 

[BigGully]

If it really were that kind of figure, then there would be no contest. In reality we would be lucky to get £100k because of his contract situation. We need to assess whether his contribution to the side between now and the summer is worth that, plus his wages.

Don't overlook the fact though, that he himself would have to agree to his being sold. He may well not do, even if an offer comes in from a championship club that is acceptable to DK. From Hammond's own perspective, if he moves now, the club might get £100k. If he waits till the summer, there will be a bigger signing on fee in it for him personally.

Put yourself in his shoes.

Thats about right.

There is no real incentive for Hammond to move until the Summer. Of course there might be a Championship side willing to push the boat out and offer Brighton a sizeable fee whilst still making Hammond enjoy a very attractive signing on fee, however it is more likely that he will let his contract run and enjoy a bumper pay deal in the Summer.

Good luck to him, I am still sure that if the Club and especially DK had shown a little more enthusiasm to sort out a deal earlier then he could of been kept.

Our only hope is that Wilkins can sway him to stay, because that might be the only hope.

Hammond has a great deal of respect for the current Manager. But respect is one thing , but an opportunity to get £100,000 signing on fee is another.

 

[Brovion]

... I really do believe that Hammond wants to stay and my disdain for agents has been well documented previously. I can understand Deano's ambition and believe he is capable of playing at a higher level. I only hope that he is playing at that higher level with us

I don't know him so I don't know whether he wants to stay or not, but I'm guessing that his affection for the Albion is outweighed by his desire to make the most of his career.

If I were advising him I'd tell him not to sign anything with the Albion (unless it is for really silly money) on the grounds that he's a reasonable player and can move for nothing in the summer. The lack of a fee will make him a more attractive proposition for a lower-level Championship club (Norwich?) as opposed to them having to splash out a fee. It's a gamble because, like Bertin, Savage and O'C, he might not get picked up - but I think he will. If the worst comes to the worst he'll end up back in our division with someone like an Administration-free Luton or Swindon.