O'Callaghan is not coming back 4 sure

[forumwayseagull]

O'Callaghan back in Town after bust-up
29 December 2007 | 10:30
From Ipswich paper EADT
DEREK DAVIS
GEORGE O'Callaghan has rejected the chance to extend his loan spell at Brighton and is back in Ipswich.

The Blues midfielder decided not to stay at the Withdean after a row with Seagulls chairman Dick Knight over

O'Callaghan spoke up for a number of Albion players who have not had contracts sorted out and it looks likely that striker Bas Savage will follow him out of the door when his current deal expires on January 1.

Matt Richards returned to Portman Road last week and is undecided about going back to Brighton, while Dean Hammond is another who could leave after Albion dragged their heels in offering him a new deal.

Richards is included in the Blues squad that looking for their first away win in nine months when they go to Coventry today.

Irish midfielder O'Callaghan will not play for Brighton in today's trip to Yeovil after suffering a slight groin strain in the 3-0 Boxing Day defeat at Millwall but hopes he can force his way back into the Ipswich first team reckoning as early as next week.

O'Callaghan's performances at Brighton earned him many man of the match awards and recognised by a number of other clubs at home and abroad.

Irish side Bohemians are keen to sign him, while Spanish teams have also made overtures to his agent but O'Callaghan is heartened by Town' manager Jim Magilton's quotes in the EADT last week when he said he would have no qualms about playing the midfielder.

O'Callaghan last night said: “I enjoyed playing regularly at Brighton but I spoke with the gaffer and decided it is right to try again at Ipswich and try to get first team action.

“They are a good bunch of lads at Brighton and I enjoyed playing with them so I hope things work out for them.”

Magilton confirmed he has invited Lauren Robert to Portman Road and is waiting on an answer. He is also tracking Drogheda United centre half Graham Gartland, while Plymouth's David Norris is understood to remain his number one target.

He said: “Like every manager in the country I'm looking for that extra bit of quality to take us on but I'm not desperate. I have irons in the fire and we are hoping if that happens it will make us that bit more competitive.”

Magilton has changed his mind about including Richard Naylor in the squad for this evening's game at Coventry.

Magilton said: “It is just too early for him. I thought about bringing Richard along but he has not played football for a long time and in an ideal world we would like to get a couple of games under his belt first.”

derek.davis@archant.co.uk

 

[Seasider78]

Irish side Bohemians are keen to sign him, while Spanish teams have also made overtures to his agent

Real Madrid it is then!! Sure this is not written by Andy Naylor??

 

[Zebedee]

We'll miss O'Callaghan - no doubt about that - but I'm not surprised to hear that he won't be returning to the club. The groin strain that prevented him from playing today wasn't exactly a surprise either. But at least we can rely on O'Callaghan to spread the word to other players about how good life is at Brighton, which should help to make Deano's moves in the loan market a tad easier. He has clearly loved the experience.

 

[Skaville]

O'Callaghan last night said: “I enjoyed playing regularly at Brighton but I decided it is right to stick the knife in, unsettle the dressing room and grab some headlines.

“They are a good bunch of lads at Brighton and I enjoyed playing with them, but I am bigger than them and the club as a whole. It was time to derail things. The chairman and manager gave me an opportunity to put myself in the shop window, now it's time to kick them in the teeth.”

[/email]

 

[Rookie]

looking at it he was never first choice only by chance that he was playing when they went to watch Richards. Wouldn't be surprised if Dean has another midfielder lined up already

 

[Skaville]

We'll miss O'Callaghan - no doubt about that - but I'm not surprised to hear that he won't be returning to the club. The groin strain that prevented him from playing today wasn't exactly a surprise either. But at least we can rely on O'Callaghan to spread the word to other players about how good life is at Brighton, which should help to make Deano's moves in the loan market a tad easier. He has clearly loved the experience.

I don't think he's increased his chances of a move or a starting place at Ipswich. What he did was hugely unprofessional and managers and directors anywhere else will no doubt be cautious now.

 

[Zebedee]

I don't think he's increased his chances of a move or a starting place at Ipswich. What he did was hugely unprofessional and managers and directors anywhere else will no doubt be cautious now.

Fair point but I doubt George took the decision to comment lightly. There is clearly a lot of background turbulence at the club at present and rightly or wrongly I suspect that O'Callaghan felt that by speaking out he was acting in the best interests of the club and other players, some of whom do seem to be mightily pissed off at the moment.

:falmerspi

 

[Cian]

Could easily see him return to the LOI, theres an awful lot of cash splashing around the Premier Division this year (and its currently off-season) - namely Bohemians and Cork City; although they might not want him back.

 

[Skaville]

Fair point but I doubt George took the decision to comment lightly. There is clearly a lot of background turbulence at the club at present and rightly or wrongly I suspect that O'Callaghan felt that by speaking out he was acting in the best interests of the club and other players, some of whom do seem to be mightily pissed off at the moment.

:falmerspi

That's a very noble viewpoint but I get the impression from watching him that he is pretty mouthy and petulant with a fairly high opinion of himself. Perhaps our unwillingness to break the bank for him left him a little frustrated,

One thing you have to remember us that half the squad have come through the youth set up and many others (Kuipers, Hart, Reid, Butters et al) have been with the club for many years. They are all acutely aware of the financial constraints that the club operates under. They don't need someone who has been here for five minutes to point it out.

I cannot accept that George O'Callaghan had the best interests of Brighton and Hove Albion at heart. Has he ever stated a love for the club or a desire to stay? At best, it's misguided. In management speak it's internal terrorism. Good riddance to the new Leon Knight.

 

[Zebedee]

That's a very noble viewpoint but I get the impression from watching him that he is pretty mouthy and petulant with a fairly high opinion of himself. Perhaps our unwillingness to break the bank for him left him a little frustrated,

One thing you have to remember us that half the squad have come through the youth set up and many others (Kuipers, Hart, Reid, Butters et al) have been with the club for many years. They are all acutely aware of the financial constraints that the club operates under. They don't need someone who has been here for five minutes to point it out.

I cannot accept that George O'Callaghan had the best interests of Brighton and Hove Albion at heart. Has he ever stated a love for the club or a desire to stay? At best, it's misguided. In management speak it's internal terrorism. Good riddance to the new Leon Knight.

Each to his own opinion but I do think you've been a tad harsh on George. CKR was another "untalented" player who of course fell out with management and moved on. Another loss IMHO.

 

[FalmerforAll!**]

He can take his shit stirring Irish arse back to Ipswich,he won't get a gig.

 

[Skaville]

Each to his own opinion but I do think you've been a tad harsh on George. CKR was another "untalented" player who of course fell out with management and moved on. Another loss IMHO.

The management at that time was Mark McGhee and the difference was that CKR was a permanent signing, not a loan player.

 

[Zebedee]

He can take his shit stirring Irish arse back to Ipswich,he won't get a gig.

At least we can rely on our Chairman for a balanced and honest assessment of the situation. Thank goodness for that eh?

 

[O Lads]

I think O'Callaghan had already made his mind up that he didn't really want to be playing in League One and wanted to fight for his place at Ipswich, which is fair enough. Sounds to me like he was trying to stick up and speak out for the players at Brighton. Hardly going to effect him if he doesnt plan on returning, but if Hammond or anybody else had spoke out then it would be rather uncomfortable for them seeing out their contract, to say the least.

 

[Virgo's Haircut]

Such a shame he was "injured" today wasn't it

 

[Skaville]

At least we can rely on our Chairman for a balanced and honest assessment of the situation. Thank goodness for that eh?

What would you do in Dick Knight's shoes? The lack of long term contracts is a financial reality. This dickhead comes in for five minutes and starts shooting his mouth to the press, unsettling the team and pissing off the fans. Just what was needed...

 

[the wanderbus]

That's a very noble viewpoint but I get the impression from watching him that he is pretty mouthy and petulant with a fairly high opinion of himself. Perhaps our unwillingness to break the bank for him left him a little frustrated,

One thing you have to remember us that half the squad have come through the youth set up and many others (Kuipers, Hart, Reid, Butters et al) have been with the club for many years. They are all acutely aware of the financial constraints that the club operates under. They don't need someone who has been here for five minutes to point it out.

I cannot accept that George O'Callaghan had the best interests of Brighton and Hove Albion at heart. Has he ever stated a love for the club or a desire to stay? At best, it's misguided. In management speak it's internal terrorism. Good riddance to the new Leon Knight.

Spot on, good riddence..

 

[SNOOBS]

So he was a good player but he thinks hes better than he is and obviously doesn't want to stay so lets move on and forget about him and get on with the rest of the season. One thing I would say is better when hes not playing is Dean Hammond, with out GOC he gets more into the game.

 

[FalmerforAll!**]

At least we can rely on our Chairman for a balanced and honest assessment of the situation. Thank goodness for that eh?

Yup

 

[dougdeep]

We can find better.