16 Jun 2025 10:20:25
Genuine question for Ed001:

I'm sure it won't come to this, but if a player (like Konate) actually refuses to sign a new contract, refuses to move to another club and is instead waiting for another club to move to when their contract expires, is there anything the club can do?

It seems stupid that all we could do is bench him. I do think the Bosman ruling was a step forward, but this sort of scenario seems bizarre.

For the record, i DO NOT expect this to happen with Konate, I think the recent stories originate in the Real Madrid press who are trying to pressurise the situation (and get clicks) .

I fully expect Ibou to sign a new contract and if he really wants to play for Madrid, maybe a clause with a price for them may be in the contract (but it's a long shot! )

{Ed001's Note - the only thing they can really do is drop him to train with the kids. There is no real power that the clubs can wield over players any more. That is why it is more important than ever to get the right type of person, as well as type of player, when you are making signings.}

1.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 10:30:12
Thank you Ed001, I didn't think there was anything, which is a shame.

Certainly confirms that looking for players who want to play for us is so important, glad the club are prioritising this.

{Ed001's Note - the game has gone too far in favour of players. What I find strange is that it has had so little effect on transfer fees. It is such a huge risk spending big money now, compared to pre-Bosman era.}

2.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 10:48:24
Like Ed says there is little that the clubs can do but the threat of being dropped for the season would carry a lot more weight in a season where he would be playing for his place at the World Cup. Unlike Trent, Mo and Virg, he's not undroppable, especially if we bring in another CB before next season.

3.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 10:42:16
Wonder would it be at all possible to implement some sort of Gardening Leave rule, where if the club decides not to extend your contract, you can leave on a free as normal, but if the club does actually offer you an extension (with a reasonable payrise or something maybe) and you refuse to sign it, there could be a period of like 6 months gardening leave after your contract ends, where you are not allowed to play for a different club. Just a thought!

{Ed001's Note - there does need to be something, because right now it is silly. Just enough to make it balanced between players and clubs.}

4.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 11:10:34
Isn't a transfer fee compensation for a club when a player doesn't fulfill a contract? If a player fulfills a contract, the club is owed nothing.
Getting the right players at the right price is vital and that's why I don't get the obsession some have with bringing in new players.
I can see both the clubs' and the players' sides when it comes to contracts and transfers.
You never know, the club might be looking to replace Konate and unwilling to pay him what he thinks he is worth.

{Ed001's Note - also compensation for the work they have done coaching the player etc to help him earn a bigger salary. Players already get 5% of the transfer fee, so it is not like they get nothing when they move under contract. But yes, broadly speaking you are correct. And I agree with you as well on all your points. God that felt weird agreeing with you, is that the first time?}

5.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 11:25:39
Player power is a real thing now. It is what it is. It's better to let them go and move on than to try to have them "rot in the reserves" and all that. No one's doing that anymore and that goes back a couple of decades now or at least, almost.

{Ed077's Note - you do have to pay their salaries anyways so at least get some use of them, on the field instead of having them in reserves, out of anger.

6.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 12:38:42
I guess if you find yourself at an impasse as Oli suggests, maybe it is better to cut your losses and let them go for a nominal amount? You save the wages at least.

Again, I don't think this is the case with Konate, but I wonder if there has been a case of a player properly downing tools for a period of time? I don't really count Countinho as it was only for a couple of games. Has a player properly refused to play for a season?

7.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 12:51:06
Public shaming simples.

8.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 12:55:40
It is probably is, Ed001 ?.

And it's a good point about clubs being compensated for coaching and player development. PLayers also get sold for more than they were bought.
Players also get compensated when let go before their contracts are up. Some will get a pay off and allowed to find another club.

{Ed001's Note - I have to admit, my main bugbear with football contracts is when a manager is a miserable failure but gets paid up their contract anyway. It is ludicrous to see them getting millions for being useless.}

9.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 13:55:15
Imagine what Watford's outlay on sacked managers must be in the last 10 years.

10.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 14:05:40
I agree Ed, there is absolutely no pressure on managers anymore because if they under-perform, they get sacked and paid in full, and are generally free to take up a new job immediately (and in most cases, these serial failures still manage to walk into new jobs all the time! ) .

With players, obviously their contracts are guaranteed for the length of the contract while they're with the club, but a career can go really downhill if a player is dropped to the reserves for a season or 2 (or 9, in some of Chelsea's players cases! ), so there's obviously more pressure on them to perform.

11.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 14:06:19
I find it crazy that a top player will be sold for £100m plus but a top manager will be sold for a tenth of that.

One great player can’t do it on his own but a one great manager can elevate the entire club.

If anything, the Jurgen Klopps of this world are significantly more valuable than any player will ever be.

12.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 12:41:17
Exactly, Ed77. That would be dumb, for sure. Either you get some use out of them on the pitch or get whatever money you can get for them and let them go.

{Ed077's Note - there really isn't a way to "force" players to move clubs or sign new deal if they have set their minds on a free transfer.

13.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 15:06:09
There's just too much money in the game, far too much and it's given the players the power to do what they want to do. I dread to think what it'll be like in 20-30 years from now.

14.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 15:30:46
I’ve mentioned it before but with it being a World Cup year Konate will need to play. We know he’s leaving next year so ask for him to sign a one year contract extension with a small buy out clause. If he doesn’t sign then buy his replacement now and let him play second fiddle for the year.

15.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 15:14:16
That as well, Ed77. It is what it is.

16.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 19:20:09
Zed…. You asked if a player had chosen to sit out a season. Rangers signed an Italian named Marco Negri for £3.5m (a big fee at the time) Supplied by Gascogne and Laudrup he scored 23 goals in his first 10 games and more than 30 in his first season.
In the following 3 seasons he played 3 games for the club. The story goes that he injured an eye playing squash and resented being disciplined publicly by Walter Smith.
Regarding his absences, when Smith was asked if it was injury related, Smith sneered, ”No! ”.
Negri went on record saying, “As far as I am concerned I shall be here until my contract ends and then I shall look at things, but that is a long way off. I signed a deal to stay with Rangers for four years and nothing that has happened here in Glasgow so far has changed my mind about that. ” He pocketed £18,000 a week for 3 years while sitting in a cream puff.

17.) 16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025 19:39:01
Wow, great story RN.

Given it was Rangers, I would’ve put him in a room with Souness, Big Dunc and Terry Butcher - he would’ve meekly played to the best of his ability ?.

{Ed001's Note - Bogarde at Chelsea is another one, sat out his contract for years.}