20 goals in 114 appearances, so a mere £2.5m a goal!
I've always been convinced that he never recovered from this:
I doubt I'm sufficiently able when it comes to figures to work out what that type of return would mean to a club unless they had an Abramovich or his like able to absorb this type of loss. Of course this is at one end of the spectrum, but even down in the lower end of of the league figures like £250,000 (possibly far less) can mean the difference between survival and extinction. Yet without a set of accounts to peruse I hear the constant moan that we should be seeking to spend, spend, spend! As has been made clear by several other posters, there is no such thing as a free signing. Plus we have the reality of being in this division to contend with, and again, it's been made clear by others that no forward of genuine quality would choose to come to a club in this division. The Championship is a far different proposition though, and if a club is doing well and has genuine prospects of achieving promotion then attracting a forward who
might make a difference is far easier to attract.........
Just seen
super_pig's post above, who knows why or how they manage to achieve this, but has it occurred to you that their approach to managing their finances might be guided by a gambling instinct (for that read Russian roulette) rather than the necessary financial husbandry that far too few clubs have employed in years gone by? The equation of attendance income, plus other legitimate forms of income has no place in the world of those who wish to gamble recklessly with a club's future. There are numerous ways to massage figures, let alone take chances that many clubs just wouldn't consider, to give yourself a leg up that is neither fair or legitimate. Maybe it might be worth suggesting to those who sanction such moves whether they'd be prepared to turn a blind eye for a few season's to how we make such moves possible, all in the hope, of course, of
possibly achieving success. In effect taking from Peter to pay Paul, or, more bluntly, using this month's rent money to gamble on the 3.30 at Kempton as it's a dead cert to come in first.
It's another of these opinions formed from a distance without knowing what can or cannot be afforded, let alone understanding what deals have been explored and how viable they might be. Unless evidence can be presented that proves otherwise, I think I'll wait and see how these big money purchase contribute to the fortunes of the clubs who have been willing to essentially re-mortgage their property.
