by Binfield Royal »
02 Feb 2009 13:49
eleventh earl of mar Binfield Royal I actually know this as I overheard him talking to someone else after the Wolves match.
Not doubting that you heard him say it, but the player who is telling the press that the club are not keeping him informed of any offers, has enough knowledge about an offer to say that? Forgive my cynicism but I would take anything a footballer says regarding transfers with a pinch of salt. If and when any player moves is when I believe it.
I think all players will always know about any bid or interest from another club. Players have agents who only get paid if their client moves employers. Someone at Wigan will have made sure Hunty or his agent know that a bid had been put in because if the player wants the move, he will be able to put pressure (subtle or not so subtle) on the current club to accept the move.
I do not think for a second that Hunty was seriously complaining about being "kept in the dark" about offers, what he is really moaning about is that Wigan have made a bid that Hunty thinks is "close enough" to the terms of the release clause and thinks that Reading should agree to vary the contract enough to allow Wigans offer to trigger the clause. He has no legal right to this but probably feels he should be granted the leeway as thanks for his outstanding service and attitude etc etc.
Anyone who remembers McGhee, Pardew et al would know that Mr Mad honours his contracts to the letter and believes (rightly IMHO) that everyone else should do the same. The club is unlikely therefore to bend to the will of any individual player.
I would much prefer he stayed til the end of the season at least. He is part of a team that is doing well and he is playing every week. Lets be honest, Wigan and Tottenham are not going to win anything this season and in truth, either of them could quite easily be relegated.