CONFIRMED - Alex Pearce re-signs

[TBM]

Speaking regarding Alex Pearce, Nick said, “We have been speaking to him with regards to his contract throughout the season. Unfortunately, up until this point we have not managed to find a deal which is mutually acceptable to both parties. I am keen however, now the season has finished, to have a further conversation with Alex and his representatives to understand his thoughts and give him the club’s final position.”

[rob the royal]

Speaking regarding Alex Pearce, Nick said, “We have been speaking to him with regards to his contract throughout the season. Unfortunately, up until this point we have not managed to find a deal which is mutually acceptable to both parties. I am keen however, now the season has finished, to have a further conversation with Alex and his representatives to understand his thoughts and give him the club’s final position.”

At this point my heart says let him go, he should have signed earlier. If he signs now it's only because he's not been offered a better alternative.

My head says if he is willing sign him up and sell him at the first opportunity.

[andrew1957]

I very much doubt Pearce will stay. One can only think he has a move lined up or he would have signed a new contract ages ago.

If the move falls through no doubt he will re-sign and say he always intended to and loves RFC and would never go anywhere else.

He holds all the cards to be honest. Bosman does give a smart player a winning hand.

[PieEater]

My heart says that anyone who oxf*rd the club around with a contract should just piss off.

Especially when they are getting paid shitloads.

[72 bus]

I very much doubt Pearce will stay. One can only think he has a move lined up or he would have signed a new contract ages ago.

If the move falls through no doubt he will re-sign and say he always intended to and loves RFC and would never go anywhere else.

He holds all the cards to be honest. Bosman does give a smart player a winning hand.

Hope we buy another centre half in the meantime

He has wasted a season of his career messing about and there is a good chance he will only be able to find a Championship club to sign for anyway.
So he could end up moving away from the area where his family live, to play for potentially less money.
Well done Alex's agent.

Average championship defender with no loyalty to the club, and one who even had difficulty deciding which country he was from.

[blueroyals]

My guess is Liverpool showed interest in him in January but have since pulled out because they found someone else. Now he looks like a complete idiot. He's agent is running around trying to flog him to any PL team that will have him. However, the fact he hasn't played for us at all this season means I doubt anybody will want him.

Well played by the club if this works out. He was one of my favourite players until all this happened. Couldn't care less about him now. Good job alienating the fans + staff Alex. Hope it was worth it

[SydenhamRoyal]

.

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Average championship defender with no loyalty to the club, and one who even had difficulty deciding which country he was from.

Not quite true. He found it very easy, so easy he managed to do it 3 times .

[Cripple Creek]

Pearce's agent has, it appears, well and truly ballsed this up. I feel sorry for Pearce if no-one comes in for him. He's a young bloke who has probably put his faith in an egotistical agent (who has flattered Pearce) who doesn't know what he's doing.

[Big Ern]

Struggling to see why any Prem team would want him. He hardly played this season and when he did he was nothing special. Whoever wins the playoff final be interested, apart from that can't see anyone else who would be that desperate to sign him.

[RoyalTank]

Anyone that watched him play last season should surely know that he is good enough to play in the prem. I don't blame him for not accepting a new contract, I know if i was in the same position and had a chance of playing in a premiership team I would do exactly the same. Anyone saying that he has made a bad decision is clueless in my opinion, he could play first team for several teams in the prem.

If he stays I will be extremely happy, but if he goes then I wouldn't have any resentment towards him as he would be moving to better his career. The guy always put in 110% and who can blame him for wanting to challenge himself in the best league in the world.

[Royal Ginger]

Anyone that watched him play last season should surely know that he is good enough to play in the prem.

I don't know if that's strictly true. He's shown himself to play very well in a good championship side with very deep midfielders that covered his weaknesses well. I like the guy and think he may be a quality premiership player. He's got positioning and is good in the air, but in an elite league his lack of pace and trouble when people run at him could be an issue. Even though he's young, it's very unlikely he's going to get anything but slower. I think he may fit into that gap in between the divisions.

All that said, we'll be a stronger team if he's included next season.

My prediction is that he'll sign a last minute deal through desperation and will stay with us until Christmas. He'll leave for a premiership club if he's put on a good show, unless we're (unlikely) running away with it.

[jonboy29red]

shades of steve sidwell here got to big for his boots head turned by agent and will end up a bit part player

[genome]

A lot of conjecture in this thread.

We don't really know what's going on, it could be a number of things, the club could be offering him pittance. Unless there is solid evidence he has a big move lined up, I think it's a bit unfair to accuse him of greed at this point when we don't know the full picture.

Even if it is true, I am sure many of you would do the same in his situation.

[peterroyal76]

shades of steve sidwell here got to big for his boots head turned by agent and will end up a bit part player

I don't think it's anything like Sidwell. Sidwell proved himself in the prem with us and was totally honest that he was going to leave and has since established himself as a premier league player.

[peterroyal76]

he couldnt give a fook about the club. but thats the same with most players, so....

he was good last year, this year hes shown he isnt as good as he thought, and is itching to get away to sit on liverpools bench.

I don't think I've seen you so negative, but you're correct.

[Royal Rother]

Stepping back for a moment...

I think I would rather have a player who has come through the Academy and only ever played for us, then stalled on a contract so he could see what alternative offers he might get, but, having seen that there was nothing much out there for him, eventually signed one... than one of equal ability who has been signed from another club.

If he signs and stays it should be seen as a triumph for the club, and he should be welcomed with open arms back into the fold, rather than seen as some massive climbdown by all parties.

[Ian Royal]

Stepping back for a moment...

I think I would rather have a player who has come through the Academy and only ever played for us, then stalled on a contract so he could see what alternative offers he might get, but, having seen that there was nothing much out there for him, eventually signed one... than one of equal ability who has been signed from another club.

If he signs and stays it should be seen as a triumph for the club, and he should be welcomed with open arms back into the fold, rather than seen as some massive climbdown by all parties.

Yeah, I'd be more than happy for him to stay. We wouldn't need to sign a CB who may or may not work then and could focus on other areas. He obviously loves it at Reading, but he's also got to think about his career. Given he was our best centreback going into the season, and our best performing centreback early on, yet got dropped unfairly once again (like when Mills and Khiz were incorrectly preferred ahead of him) he's got every right to be looking for a move when we were clearly going to get relegated.

I think he'll struggle to be a regular at Premier League level, certainly for anyone but a successful promoted side. But he'd be stupid to sign a new deal until he's explored the avenues for a move to carry on playing in the PL.

[St. Brynjar]

Stepping back for a moment...

I think I would rather have a player who has come through the Academy and only ever played for us, then stalled on a contract so he could see what alternative offers he might get, but, having seen that there was nothing much out there for him, eventually signed one... than one of equal ability who has been signed from another club.

If he signs and stays it should be seen as a triumph for the club, and he should be welcomed with open arms back into the fold, rather than seen as some massive climbdown by all parties.

Yeah, I'd be more than happy for him to stay. We wouldn't need to sign a CB who may or may not work then and could focus on other areas. He obviously loves it at Reading, but he's also got to think about his career. Given he was our best centreback going into the season, and our best performing centreback early on, yet got dropped unfairly once again (like when Mills and Khiz were incorrectly preferred ahead of him) he's got every right to be looking for a move when we were clearly going to get relegated.

I think he'll struggle to be a regular at Premier League level, certainly for anyone but a successful promoted side. But he'd be stupid to sign a new deal until he's explored the avenues for a move to carry on playing in the PL.

Incorrectly? I thought those two were superb, although Mills had a tendency to fall asleep every other game. As good a CB partnership as Pearce/Gorkss last year I'd say.

[sandman]

They were. As mentioned before Pearce got injured that season and Khizanishvilli came in, played well and kept the place. It's only because the likes of Ian hated Mills that they call it incorrect when in reality it was a perfectly reasonable choice to make.

[Ian Royal]

Mills was not as good as Pearce, by quite some way. As demonstrated by Mills career going nowhere very fast after he's left us and Pearce being voted PotS and playing in the top flight. Khiz was good (better than Mills as well), but was only ever a loanee and should never have been preferred to a long term quality prospect like Pearce. Although he should have been in the side ahead of Mills.

Pearce and Gorkss piss all over Khiz and Mills.