Boroseagull
Well-known member
Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry has made the following comments in regard to Craig Mackail-Smith's transfer from Dagenham and Redbridge. This statement has been made because of the confusion of statements made by Craig's solicitor Jay Chatterjee and he wishes to inform all the Posh fans of the facts.
'First and foremost, the Football Association and the Football League have accepted Craig's contract from the 29th January 2007 to 30th June 2011. He is therefore Peterborough United's player for the next four and a half years.
'A week ago the solicitor Jay Chatterjee contacted myself to tell me that he had been approached by the player's father. He had been instructed to tell me that his son would not be coming to the football club. My reply was that I had signed the son not the father and it was a legally binding document that Craig had signed.
'He then informed me that if I made Craig honour the contract, the lad would pack up football and work for his dad for the next four and half years. His next step was to complain to the Football Association that the football club had broken rules in signing Mackail-Smith, so therefore the contract was null and void. He made some strong, wild accusations to the FA that were completely untrue.
'He stated that Dagenham and Redbridge had not cancelled Craig's contract. This is obviously not required when a permanent transfer is concluded because the player and the two clubs concerned signed the transfer document.
'His other complaint was that we illegally paid Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club for the transfer instead of paying the Football Association. I don't know where he is getting his rules and regulations from, but they are completely wrong.
'Then, after the contract had been accepted by the Football League, he asked for an arbitration. There is no need for an arbitration because the facts are that Craig is a Peterborough United player for the next four and a half years and there is no basis for an arbitration.
'This man does not know a goal-line from a clothes line and I am thinking of reporting him to his authorities. Regarding Craig's unlicensed agent Robert Codner his request for payment was kicked out by me and it is my belief that he has gone to a number of clubs saying that he can get Craig out of his contract at Peterborough United for his own financial gain.
'Codner is the sort of person that gives good agents a bad name. His conduct is disgraceful and I have had many other complaints from managers regarding the way he tries to do business. The one person I feel sorry for in all this is Craig.
'Craig should have the world at his feet having just contributed to taking Dagenham and Redbridge nine points clear at the top of the Nationwide Conference. He is in the form of his life, but is being given the wrong advice from three gentleman who, if they carry on in the same vain, will put a player out of the game for four and a half years. I hope they can all sleep at night if they achieve that.
'His worst enemy wouldn't want to put a 22-year-old out of the game, let alone his own father, solicitor and agent. Jay Chatterjee also told me and has put it in writing that he has cancer and is receiving chemotherapy treatment, having had my mother and several other family members die of this, I can sympathise.
'He also tells me that Craig's father has suffered a stroke and indeed as my own father suffered a stroke and subsequently died, again I have enormous sympathy. It does put football into perspective. However, what these two things have to do with Craig signing and being a player for Peterborough United, I have no idea.
'Chatterjee was told by me that the player should report for the re-arranged League fixture with Swindon Town, a game that was arranged on this date so that the two Dagenham players could be involved in. The Football League had informed us that Craig was eligible to play. I expected Craig to report with the team at 4pm on that day. He did not turn up and will be fined for not turning up.
'We arranged for Craig to come in on Thursday, but again he did not turn up. He will be fined again. Unfortunately all this is having a huge effect on our chairman Darragh MacAnthony who put his money where his mouth is when nobody else would. It is having an effect on the staff at Peterborough United Football Club and most of all, it is having an effect on the supporters who quite rightly, do not want a player that states that he doesn't want to play for us.
'However, not only for the sake of Peterborough United, but for the sake of football in general, this football club will be making a huge stance and not bow down to the agents greed in trying to get his client to another club at the expense of Peterborough United.
'Everybody at Peterborough United would welcome Craig Mackail-Smith with open arms. We just want him to show his exciting talent on the football field before this gets completely out of hand and before a young man's career is shattered through ill advice.
'Therefore, we have informed Craig Mackail-Smith's solicitors that if he does not attend training on Monday we will fine him a maximum of two weeks wages. We have been informed we cannot sue the lawyer because he is acting on advice from his client, but we can begin legal proceedings against the agent Robert Codner for procurement of breach of contract and also sue the player for breach of contract and damages. This will be for a substantial amount of money and could leave the player bankrupt.
'I can only hope and pray that common sense prevails and that Mackail-Smith turns up at training on Monday and can continue with his exciting career.
'First and foremost, the Football Association and the Football League have accepted Craig's contract from the 29th January 2007 to 30th June 2011. He is therefore Peterborough United's player for the next four and a half years.
'A week ago the solicitor Jay Chatterjee contacted myself to tell me that he had been approached by the player's father. He had been instructed to tell me that his son would not be coming to the football club. My reply was that I had signed the son not the father and it was a legally binding document that Craig had signed.
'He then informed me that if I made Craig honour the contract, the lad would pack up football and work for his dad for the next four and half years. His next step was to complain to the Football Association that the football club had broken rules in signing Mackail-Smith, so therefore the contract was null and void. He made some strong, wild accusations to the FA that were completely untrue.
'He stated that Dagenham and Redbridge had not cancelled Craig's contract. This is obviously not required when a permanent transfer is concluded because the player and the two clubs concerned signed the transfer document.
'His other complaint was that we illegally paid Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club for the transfer instead of paying the Football Association. I don't know where he is getting his rules and regulations from, but they are completely wrong.
'Then, after the contract had been accepted by the Football League, he asked for an arbitration. There is no need for an arbitration because the facts are that Craig is a Peterborough United player for the next four and a half years and there is no basis for an arbitration.
'This man does not know a goal-line from a clothes line and I am thinking of reporting him to his authorities. Regarding Craig's unlicensed agent Robert Codner his request for payment was kicked out by me and it is my belief that he has gone to a number of clubs saying that he can get Craig out of his contract at Peterborough United for his own financial gain.
'Codner is the sort of person that gives good agents a bad name. His conduct is disgraceful and I have had many other complaints from managers regarding the way he tries to do business. The one person I feel sorry for in all this is Craig.
'Craig should have the world at his feet having just contributed to taking Dagenham and Redbridge nine points clear at the top of the Nationwide Conference. He is in the form of his life, but is being given the wrong advice from three gentleman who, if they carry on in the same vain, will put a player out of the game for four and a half years. I hope they can all sleep at night if they achieve that.
'His worst enemy wouldn't want to put a 22-year-old out of the game, let alone his own father, solicitor and agent. Jay Chatterjee also told me and has put it in writing that he has cancer and is receiving chemotherapy treatment, having had my mother and several other family members die of this, I can sympathise.
'He also tells me that Craig's father has suffered a stroke and indeed as my own father suffered a stroke and subsequently died, again I have enormous sympathy. It does put football into perspective. However, what these two things have to do with Craig signing and being a player for Peterborough United, I have no idea.
'Chatterjee was told by me that the player should report for the re-arranged League fixture with Swindon Town, a game that was arranged on this date so that the two Dagenham players could be involved in. The Football League had informed us that Craig was eligible to play. I expected Craig to report with the team at 4pm on that day. He did not turn up and will be fined for not turning up.
'We arranged for Craig to come in on Thursday, but again he did not turn up. He will be fined again. Unfortunately all this is having a huge effect on our chairman Darragh MacAnthony who put his money where his mouth is when nobody else would. It is having an effect on the staff at Peterborough United Football Club and most of all, it is having an effect on the supporters who quite rightly, do not want a player that states that he doesn't want to play for us.
'However, not only for the sake of Peterborough United, but for the sake of football in general, this football club will be making a huge stance and not bow down to the agents greed in trying to get his client to another club at the expense of Peterborough United.
'Everybody at Peterborough United would welcome Craig Mackail-Smith with open arms. We just want him to show his exciting talent on the football field before this gets completely out of hand and before a young man's career is shattered through ill advice.
'Therefore, we have informed Craig Mackail-Smith's solicitors that if he does not attend training on Monday we will fine him a maximum of two weeks wages. We have been informed we cannot sue the lawyer because he is acting on advice from his client, but we can begin legal proceedings against the agent Robert Codner for procurement of breach of contract and also sue the player for breach of contract and damages. This will be for a substantial amount of money and could leave the player bankrupt.
'I can only hope and pray that common sense prevails and that Mackail-Smith turns up at training on Monday and can continue with his exciting career.
