Statement from SUFC

[matth]

Including word that we've agreed a fee for Lita, but not agreed terms with his agent...

http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1518400,00.html

Sheffield United has just announced the sale of James Beattie to Stoke City signals the start of a re-profiling of the squad which will ensure the Club is in the best position to manage any eventuality that might arise in the future.

The Club is not immune to circumstances and needs to have a robust business plan, both on and off the field, to give the manager and team the best opportunity for long term, ongoing success.

The loss of parachute payments will correspond with a worldwide recession, and the chance to transfer our highest paid player can only happen when a willing buyer puts in an offer. Whenever this bid came it would be difficult, both for the Club and its supporters, but it had to be considered.

With us still a Championship club and facing a massive drop in football income the wage cost of one player would have been 35% of projected budget.
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This difficult decision was made in the knowledge that we will not be offering new contracts until the end of the season, and it is natural that players who perceive they are in the final years of their existing contracts will make repeated requests for continuing negotiation.

The adverse publicity that the press make about any fallouts regarding these requests do not help the management of the Club.

This transfer enables the manager to re-profile a squad which will be competitive in the Championship and for him to still have the scope to add to it if the Club were to be promoted this season.

There have already been some outgoings but the return of Leigh Bromby who can provide cover in defence - important with the loss of Ugo Ehiogu - is the type of thing we now have the opportunity to do which we may not have had previously.

The Club has had a seven figure offer accepted by Reading for Leroy Lita but at this stage are unable to reach agreement with his agent.

We are in a strong position in the league and will be supportive of the manager during this window, and of the opportunities that could arise afterwards for short term loans.

Sheffield United's ambition in signing James - although he has been an exemplary professional and scorer of many goals - did not result in the immediate return to the Premiership that we had hoped for.

The Club is setting its stall out to assist the manager with a competitive squad, and with an expenditure that will be realistic but does not put the Club at risk.

Our ambitions are the same but we are not immune from financial circumstances.

 

[Bladesman]

Good news we best get ball moving to bring him in though.

 

[matth]

There's always a chance that we won't be able to agree terms...

 

[Bladesman]

Exactly as Lita will not be cheap in terms of wages either.

 

[Sensiblade]

Beattie 35% of the Wage budget!!!!!
Good business getting that off the budget then in my opinion.

 

[jodman]

I'm happy enough with that, we couldn't afford to wait for a potential higher bid that might never come and so our hand was forced.

It is sensible to trim the massive earners to allow us to create a squad of players in the same wage bracket; especially given the fact that promotion is only an outside possibility.

We are clearly looking for a decent replacement that fits in with the wage budget (i hope we don't break the bank for Lita) but can add some potency to our forward line and that is the most important thing in my mind.

 

[matth]

It does beg the question though: why say that we're not having to sell the players, and then do the exact opposite? I'm sorry, but it's bullshit. Try telling the truth, then people won't be disappointed when things happen.

I accept that 35% of the budget was ridiculous, and that it was unfeasible. This being the case, why say less than three weeks ago that we wouldn't have to sell? Make your minds up!

Also, the Lita thing. The wording is very negative, to my mind. If it had said 'Negotiations are ongoing' or something, I might have believed he'll come. As it is, I think we won't offer the wages that he wants, but at least the club can tell the fans that they tried to get him.

 

[Deleted member 1466]

pointless exercise, the lita thing, might as well have just put a 500k bit in for messi, then put a statement on the site saying, oh well, we tried to sign him, but couldnt agree a fee with barca

 

[Bladesman]

We tried to sign Maradona once aswell.

I guess it shows ambition but still results in the club staying where it is.

 

[Deleted member 1466]

its only ambition if you put your money where your mouth is, anyone could anounce they tried to sign some one

 

[Billyblade]

We tried to sign Maradona once aswell.

I guess it shows ambition but still results in the club staying where it is.

We were offered Maradona when he was about 16, I seem to recall and decided to take the more established Alex Sabella who turned out to be a very good signing and because of this was subsequently under-sold to Leeds.

Just goes to show you can't scout everything. Trevor Francis when he was manager at the Pigs turned down Eric Cantona because he'd not seen him play on grass!!!!

 

[Come from away]

Also, the Lita thing. The wording is very negative, to my mind. If it had said 'Negotiations are ongoing' or something, I might have believed he'll come. As it is, I think we won't offer the wages that he wants, but at least the club can tell the fans that they tried to get him.

So you prefer it if the club doesn't exactly tell you the truth but just waffles a bit. They're on a winner here!

 

[BV]

Beattie 35% of the Wage budget!!!!!
Good business getting that off the budget then in my opinion.

35% of the projected budget. I'm presuming the overall budget is going to be cut in line with a drop in revenue. If rumours of Beattie being on £30k a week are true, that would give us a wage budget of nearly £4.5m for next season. Didn't we have the highest wage budget in the league when we got promoted and that was about £3m?

Who else is on big money? Hendrie? Naysmith? I think Carney's on about £10k per week if i remember correctly.

 

[Bladesman]

Yes but it was quicker to shift our star striker rather than release the deadwood off the wage bill.

 

[matth]

So you prefer it if the club doesn't exactly tell you the truth but just waffles a bit. They're on a winner here!

No. What I'd prefer is that the club kept their collective mouths shut. They're just setting themselves up for a fall.

I was saying that I doubt Lita would sign given what they'd said, not that I'd rather they lied.

 

[jodman]

No. What I'd prefer is that the club kept their collective mouths shut. They're just setting themselves up for a fall.

I was saying that I doubt Lita would sign given what they'd said, not that I'd rather they lied.

I take your point here, how many times in the past have we heard about the club being close to signing a star player and then nothing happens and we find out weeks later that the player in question could not agree terms.

I would suggest that the club hoped to have the Lita deal done to announce at the same time as Beattie left, to soften the blow as it were. Putting out that talks have stalled at the wage negotiation stage almost gives them the opportunity to pull out of the deal and lay the blame at the players door for being too greedy.

 

[beightonblade]

Things at BDTBL just go from bad to worse..............what a shambles !

 

[MAQ]

I take your point here, how many times in the past have we heard about the club being close to signing a star player and then nothing happens and we find out weeks later that the player in question could not agree terms.

I would suggest that the club hoped to have the Lita deal done to announce at the same time as Beattie left, to soften the blow as it were. Putting out that talks have stalled at the wage negotiation stage almost gives them the opportunity to pull out of the deal and lay the blame at the players door for being too greedy.

Think this sums up this entire subject quite well

http://www.sheff-utd.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=144081#post144081

 

[S64 Blade]

Yes but it was quicker to shift our star striker rather than release the deadwood off the wage bill.

Why does it have to be a quick solution. I'm sure we could have offloaded Hendrie, Carney & co. before the end of the transfer window this month. Would two weeks really have dinted our finances that much? And surely, taking a few more weeks to release the 'deadwood' is better than selling your top player.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Why does it have to be a quick solution. I'm sure we could have offloaded Hendrie, Carney & co. before the end of the transfer window this month. Would two weeks really have dinted our finances that much? And surely, taking a few more weeks to release the 'deadwood' is better than selling your top player.

Assuming you can find anyone that wants Hendrie, Carney & co and that they are prepared to match or at least get close to their current terms!

 

[beightonblade]

Assuming you can find anyone that wants Hendrie, Carney & co and that they are prepared to match or at least get close to their current terms!

Bang on......................there ain't to many 'our terry's ' going about !

 

[shorehamview]

When it all comes down to it, we are a selling club. Most clubs are. With the exception of the few who sells when they want to, not because they have to, it's the way of almost all the clubs in the world.
The few who sell because they want to are in the lucky position that the great majority are not. The rest of us have to sell for financial reasons - either they can't afford the wages, like Beattie, or they get a ridiculous offer for a player that isn't guaranteed a regular first team start, like Real Madrid with Robinho.
We will only stop being a selling club when we get in the same situation as, say, Man City or Chelsea, with owners so loaded it's almost untrue.

 

[dj_uk_1234]

Oh dear SUFC. Promotion push - My arse

 

[Sensiblade]

Oh dear SUFC. Promotion push - My arse

Not biting

 

[shorehamview]

Oh dear SUFC. Promotion push - My arse

As opposed to the mighty Wendy, hurtling up the table like a rat with it's arse on fire.

When we need to get ex-managers on board, unpaid, as "football consultants" then I'll start to worry.

 

[dj_uk_1234]

As opposed to the mighty Wendy, hurtling up the table like a rat with it's arse on fire.

When we need to get ex-managers on board, unpaid, as "football consultants" then I'll start to worry.

Nope, we certainly aint doing much better at the moment. But things are certainly turning round at Hillsborough

 

[BexleyBlade]

Nope, we certainly aint doing much better at the moment. But things are certainly turning round at Hillsborough

About time?

 

[Bladesman]

Oh dear SUFC. Promotion push - My arse

Well said.

 

[dj_uk_1234]

Well said.

Thanks. I actually didn't say it as a joke.

Looking from an outsiders point of view, 4th in the league and getting rid of your top scorer looks bad.

Obviously, none of us know whats happening on the inside, but McCabe must be worried about something. I just hope it continues

 

[bladerunner]

thats a pathetic move from the club.

of course its about money, but the club itself better than everyone else should know how important a player beats was. to say every business is for the good of the club is laughable.

fair enough if we have to sell a player we can no longer hold on to, but dont try to appologize like this please. :thumbdown: