Dick Knight/ Zamora - between a rock and a hard place

[Uncle Spielberg]

Dick Knight was on a hiding to nothing. Yes we could have got 3 million odd this time last year but can you imagine the outcry when we were about to lauch our div 1 campaign if we sold Zamora just before the season started. Dick Knight would have got lynched !.

If Zamora had not played last season we would have been down by February and his 14 league goals gave us a chance until the final game of the season. During the last 3 months of last season it was quite apparent that Zamora wanted out. He had been mixing with the u 21 squad with most playing in the premiership and you can imagine them winding him up with what are you doing playing for Brighton ?. He knew his future was in the premiership and who could blame him.

We all expected Zamora to be gone before August and it is not a great shock. The transfer market has collapsed within the last year with Leeds netting £ 3 million for Kewell and Matt Holland being quoted at £ 750 k. This is not down to DK.

OK £ 1.5 million is dissapointing but we did not appear to be inundated with offers. Bobby wanted to further his career and its not Spurs fault we have to give 30% to Rovers.

In the present market we simply would not have got over £ 2 m.

Dick Knight showed his passion and support of Albion by not selling him last year.

I am pleased for Bobby as he deserves it and the fee is out of his hands but in no way do I blame Knight for giving us 3 years with Zamora and turning down offers when we won 2 championships in a row so GET OFF HIS BACK !.

 

[Grizz]

Nice one Gareth m8. Can't add any more to that.

Grizz

 

[NewBoy]

Yeah well said GG

 

[Simster]

You are absolutely right GG.

I think our board might have got £500k more but to be honest, the fact that no-one was in direct competition with Spurs has cost us dear. If West Ham had survived, we might have been looking at another million quid.

At least Coppell should now have the funds to rebuild a decent squad. It might take time though, which is the main reason I can't see us going up this year.

 

[El Presidente]

The situation is similar to 1986/7 when our best striker (Terry Connor) and captain (called Danny!!!) were both sold for knock down fees of £350,000 for the pair.

The bank is calling the tune at present,and we have to accept the current economic situation.....as much as we hate it

 

[Albion Rob]

Can you imagine how Hinshelwood would have squandered the £3m plus we would have got for Bobby. Frightening.

It would have been much easier to swallow if he had gone in June or even early July, rather than 21 days before the start of the new season, but no one at the club had any control over that. I had almost geared myself up for him being here until Christmas and banging in goals to secure a move during the transfer window.

 

[aftershavedave]

the problem is that we didn't apparently need to sell. he was on a long term contract, so no bosman implications. we could have kept him and waited for the market to pick up, if ever.

dk talks about getting a good deal in the circumstances, which to me appears to suggest that he had to sell because we needed the money, which isn't good news.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Yeah, it is a pisser because we all know he is worth more than that, but the timing was dreadful so just have to get on with it. Doesn't exactly help seeing Ian Atkins at Oxford (a man who is not exactly used to seven-figure transfer fees having managed in the basement virtually all his life) calling Zammo 'a steal'. That's just piling on the agony.

 

[Simster]

the problem is that we didn't apparently need to sell. he was on a long term contract, so no bosman implications. we could have kept him and waited for the market to pick up, if ever.

dk talks about getting a good deal in the circumstances, which to me appears to suggest that he had to sell because we needed the money, which isn't good news.

I reckon he needed to sell because Zamora wanted out. You can't really blame the player, and the last thing we wanted was a) a demotivated player or b) a reputation amongst players of holding back a career.

 

[El Presidente]

well said Simster

 

[berkshire seagull]

Well zammo was the top earner,so i guess thats a few more bob in the kitty i hope.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Apparently we will receive the money from THFC as follows:

£50k initial payment with a further £50k payable on completion of 200 first team appearances for THFC. The remaining £900k will be paid if BZ ever plays for the Italian national team. Bristol Rovers on the other hand will get their £500k immediately.