Scott appointed Director of Football

[MAMiller]

Laughed my ass off when I heard this announced. Could we actually become more of a laughing stock if we tried?..

RUFC ....chavs who rent a nice house ...end of

[mellowmiller]

Cayton buddy. wasn't there a piece in the Tizer around about Oct/Nov time last year where Ollie openly spoke of wanting to end his career with us but the club had stalled with a new offer of a contract for him, but he fully understood why they would begin talks in the New Year?

Can anyone pull that piece up?

Brin, I put it in the Hakeem Odoffin thread earlier.

[Brin]

He said he had a meeting with MT and believe they were very close. He was then told rufc couldn't do the deal at the present time. Hensor explained above why he thought it didn't happen.

Cayton, here you go. It was kindly posted by mellowMiller on a different thread.

Quote Originally Posted by mellowmiller
Below is part of an article from the Advertiser published in early October 2023 about the Ollie Rathbone contract situation and the discussions to extend it.
I must say, reading between the lines I find the club's apparent lethargy a bit disturbing.
If this is typical of how they go about things it's hardly surprising that we don't retain our better players.

"At the start of this season it looked like an agreement was close to being brokered with the 26-year-old who has become a key man since his move from Rochdale in 2021.

However, it could now be the New Year before any resolution is reached.

“To be honest, it's cooled off a little bit,” Rathbone said. “I’d had a positive conversation with the manager just before opening day (August 5) and I came out of the meeting thinking it was really close to being agreed.

“But it was in the midst of the transfer window and the club then said it wasn’t something they could do at the time, which was disappointing but I understood.

“The ball's in their court as to when talks start again. It's cold at the moment.”

Boss Matt Taylor is keen to wrap up deals for Rathbone and other top Millers performers well before their terms expire rather than risk them becoming free agents and departing AESSEAL New York Stadium for no fee.

“Ollie is a fantastic player and a good addition to any team,” the manager said. “He's our captain when Sean Morrison isn't selected. I still think it can get resolved, although there is nothing immediate on the horizon.

“Everyone is comfortable with it, including Ollie. Once it gets past January, you're at the 18-month mark and looking towards the 12-month mark. Then you run the risk of what's happened at the club before with players leaving for nothing.

“A lot will happen between now and the end of January. The plan is to keep securing the majority of our better performers and Ollie certainly fits that description. He won't be the only player I will be pushing the board to secure on a new deal.”


Quite like what a lot of fans think in that we delay, we drag our heels until it's too late retaining players and as Citizen Erased points out, it has cost us millions in revenue be it a lot lower than we valued players. Is this how we will always conduct business and eventually be in a place where we can only look at non league or very lower league players?

[Brin]

Brin, I put it in the Hakeem Odoffin thread earlier.

Yes pal I've seen it in the meantime and added it as you were replying to me. Thanks anyway, I feel it does truly show how we operate and we're still in the dark ages at retention no matter how anyone wants to butter it up!

[ragingpup]

Yes and Yes. Both are better options than allowing a multi million pound player to leave for nothing. You also set the tone of future transfers.

The club has lost millions within the last 24 months in sales revenue.

I understand the argument for keeping a player (who helps keeps us up) leaving on a free. Issue is, they still need a replacement and we are in the same position the following season without said player anyway...

I have no desire for the club to spend on transfers beyond it's means, however it's better to have a proven asset costing you money (wages) than a fee on an unknown that will still cost wages - See Nombes expense for example.

Ok. So you'd calculated what the club could safely afford and would take the risk and pay more. The player may then excel and bring in millions. Or the player then loses form or sustains a long term injury and is never the same again.

So you'd gamble the future of the club by this policy? Well, I guess it's never gone wrong before has it?

[mygiddypant]

Laughed my ass off when I heard this announced. Could we actually become more of a laughing stock if we tried?..

RUFC ....chavs who rent a nice house ...end of

Great news. Scott has been a great addition to the club, resulting in some excellent playing additions.

Above post unfortunately too typical of many on this site. By post 11 this thread was already off track and going over territory covered ad nauseam.

[Feedthegoater]

Really wish we had kept Woods in some player /manager capacity.
He gave his heart and sole for this club.
And we just let him go without even a testimonial to say a proper goodbye.

I really hope we can find again, our bust a gut attitude we used to have at this football club.

[Back of the net]

So many hypothetical scenarios on here so people can try and prove the you are unrealistic in your views.

[Brin]

Really wish we had kept Woods in some player /manager capacity.
He gave his heart and sole for this club.
And we just let him go without even a testimonial to say a proper goodbye.

I really hope we can find again, our bust a gut attitude we used to have at this football club.

Totally agree about Sir Richard. Thing was, Taylor wasn't having anyone with more respect than him in the dressing room or at our club.

I wonder if Richard ever took his coaching badges? Another cheap shot as to why Taylor said he couldn't stay at the club as he was bringing someone in already qualified. You would have thought with his vast experience he couldn't have allowed him to take his coaching badge, it doesn't take that long, look how quickly Warne got his in order to step up as Manager of our club.

[Citizen Erased]

Ok. So you'd calculated what the club could safely afford and would take the risk and pay more. The player may then excel and bring in millions. Or the player then loses form or sustains a long term injury and is never the same again.

So you'd gamble the future of the club by this policy? Well, I guess it's never gone wrong before has it?

No and no, but you've clearly not understood a word that has been said.

Yes, I'd sell a player who was otherwise going to leave if they were refusing to agree a new deal.

Yes, if the player has been at the club a number of years and proven themselves a star performer I would expect the club to look at the cost of that players replacement in wage, fees and transfers and decide to push the boat a little.

That is not risking the future of the club. It's delusional to think that retaining one or two individuals every two seasons or so would risk the club.

No I'm not suggesting we pay through the nose for aged dross either. Which is exactly what we have done this season.

We should always look to protect the club financially, which is exactly why I'd look at the Peterborough model and take the lessons from it.