Club servants.

[ramAnag]

Elsewhere tonight Rich has generously referred to Jonny Russell as a 'great servant for the club'. I disagree...in his four years or so with us he has always tried hard, not always successfully, but has also been very well rewarded for his efforts. Set me wondering as to whether, in this day and age of ridiculous re-numeration, there are any genuine 'club servants' left. The likes of Kevin Hector, Roy McFarland and Steve Powell...who spent the majority of their careers with the Rams, went on to earn relatively ordinary livings and, in at least two of those examples, suffered injuries that would effect them for the rest of their lives, might reasonably be referred to as 'great club servants' imo but, in this age of journeymen mercenaries, have we seen any more recent 'great club servants'...Gordon Guthrie apart? Thoughts?

[Akwesasne]

Will Hughes perhaps if he sees out the contract he has just signed. He always to be on the radar of other clubs but nothing ever materializes.

[Andy_Faber]

Elsewhere tonight Rich has generously referred to Jonny Russell as a 'great servant for the club'. I disagree...in his four years or so with us he has always tried hard, not always successfully, but has also been very well rewarded for his efforts. Set me wondering as to whether, in this day and age of ridiculous re-numeration, there are any genuine 'club servants' left. The likes of Kevin Hector, Roy McFarland and Steve Powell...who spent the majority of their careers with the Rams, went on to earn relatively ordinary livings and, in at least two of those examples, suffered injuries that would effect them for the rest of their lives, might reasonably be referred to as 'great club servants' imo but, in this age of journeymen mercenaries, have we seen any more recent 'great club servants'...Gordon Guthrie apart? Thoughts?

No, there are none and I don't just mean Derby. Every last one is a mercenary, and the more they are rewarded the more mercenary they get.

[Rattea]

How much is he actually on? A lot of players are not on that much. An IT contractor up north will out earn most footballers at Derby if they know their stuff.

[Rich2462]

....ok point taken with my reference to "servant" and a point well made also! What I meant to imply was that Mr Russell alway appeared to care for Derby, rather than some players who looked to become uninterested and fed up if a match wasn't going their way Johnny always looked to give his all as though it mattered personally rather than just picking up his pay cheque!

[roger_ramjet]

How much is he actually on? A lot of players are not on that much. An IT contractor up north will out earn most footballers at Derby if they know their stuff.

In the 2014-15 season the average championship player was on £ 324,250 pa according to a survey done in the daily mail (so of questionable provenance I accept!). It is now the 2016-17 season so that average will have increased. I imagine that we pay slightly above average wages, given the transfer fees we have lashed out in the last couple of years, albeit we dont pay the ridiculous figures that some of the parachute enabled clubs still pay (Jonjo Shelvey being paid more by Newcastle than Neymar is at Barcelona anyone?)

So, whilst I do not know JR's salary it might be reasonable to assume he was on at least £ 360,000 - about £ 7,000 a week using this measure. Other internet reports suggest £ 10,000 per week being typical average at clubs like Ipswich, Barnsley and Preston. Salaries of top players in championship £ 30,000 a week; top players in League 1 - £ 10,000 a week.

Maybe you know some incredible IT contractors Ratty, because the ones I know down here rarely clear more than £ 100 to 150,000 a year: far less than half this average championship guy gets. must be the northouth divide working in reverse - the Northerners getting the massive salaries this time.

Then there are the BIK that employees would get that contractors have to fund out of their fees - eg their own pension. Oh and win bonuses, promotion bonuses etc

There are lies, damned lies and statistics, but I think I know whose remuneration I would chose to have

[AdiSalisbury]

Can't think of many modern day club servants, certainly not any we've had. Matt Le Tissier came to mind for Saints, but that's 25 years ago now! Bound to be backroom staff, but players and managers, can't see how it could work in today's game.

[Oldtimeram]

What about the guy that serves the drinks in the hospitality lounge?

[roger_ramjet]

Can't think of many modern day club servants, certainly not any we've had. Matt Le Tissier came to mind for Saints, but that's 25 years ago now! Bound to be backroom staff, but players and managers, can't see how it could work in today's game.

Bosman abolished club servants at player level

[Manofpride]

Bosman abolished club servants at player level

Bang on!!!