Hart angry as Premier League 'fat cats' snubs his testimonial [Argus]

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Hart angry as Premier League 'fat cats' snubs his testimonial (Argus)

By Andy Naylor

Gary Hart has thanked Charlton for rescuing his testimonial match after a snub from the Premier League fat cats.

Albion's pre-season friendly against Charlton at Withdean on July 26 now doubles up as a testimonial for the Seagulls stalwart.

The Championship club have agreed to relinquish their share of the proceeds in recognition of Hart's decade of service to Albion.

Hart, a lifelong Spurs fan, said: "I just thank Charlton for doing it because they were going to get 50 per cent of the proceeds when it was a friendly and now they have offered to give that up.

"I am not disappointed that I have got Charlton, I am just disappointed that I couldn't get a Premiership team down. I think that is sad.

"Portsmouth let me down at the last moment. The thing I have found, which I didn't expect, is that none of the big clubs want to do anything any more.

"No-one is willing to help and I don't think it is right. It doesn't take a lot to bring a team down, even for the likes of Spurs. It's money that talks these days. I have been here for ten years but they don't think about loyalty any more."

Hart, released at the end of the season, can look forward to a bumper pay day as Charlton's visit will also be Micky Adams' first home match of his second spell as manager.

Hart added: "It is my farewell game and the likes of Butts (Guy Butters) will be there to say goodbye to the fans as well. I am having a legends game and it is Micky's first game, so I am hoping for a big crowd and a nice, fun day."

5:20pm today



Do you think that the prem clubs have got too big for their boots?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Would bringing a Premier League club down actually have made OGH more of a payday tho? Presumably any team that comes down still gets the same number of seats at the away end? Unless it's a 'sit anywhere' policy where fans of the two clubs can mingle freely. Which I doubt would happen. So the away end will still be full - on account of being here for the nightlife, if nothing else -, and reckon the only money OGH will actually miss out on on the day is if the Albion were planning to charge more for a Pompey game than they are for the Charlton game. Which again I doubt.

As long as Albion fans turn up in decent numbers to pay their respects to OGH, then all will be well.

 

[Djmiles]

I reckon a team like Portsmouth would attract a few hundred more, but at the end of the day it's still Micky Adams first game in charge at Home which will be the main reason for more people coming.

 

[NMH]

A bit of an odd one - I can kinda understand a Prem club not wanting to present their expensive employees for every testimonial requested.

 

[andybaha]

I guess they don't want to come down here and play in a testimonial for nothing. If we were at Falmer and they were sharing the proceeds of a 20,000 crowd they might be a bit more interested. The lesser teams anyway, the big 4 have pre-seasons set up that will earn them millions.

 

[andybaha]

Personally I would buy a ticket for OGH's testimonial whoever it was against.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Pompey turning him down at the last minute no surprise there from a club full of scum.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

The police would have made the Pompey game a midweek evening match so the WORD on the street goes.

A weekend fixture against Charlton will be more of a FAMILY affair and perhaps more suited to the occasion.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Personally I would buy a ticket for OGH's testimonial whoever it was against.

Quite. Isn't that how it's supposed to work? Support the player with the long service rather than see who the opposition is before deciding to turn up or not?

 

[dougdeep]

The police would have made the Pompey game a midweek evening match so the WORD on the street goes.

 

[surrey jim]

Chalton were prem only a year or so ago, maybe Hull already have the premership bug and are snubbing us!!