‘Hands off’ Odemwingie warn Albion
Wednesday 22nd June 2011, 11:40AM BST.
Albion have hit back at fresh speculation about top scorer Peter Odemwingie by telling would-be suitors “he is not for sale.”
The Baggies issued their ‘hands off’ warning after reports from Nigeria claimed the 29-year-old, who spearheaded the club’s best ever Premier League finish last season, had been the subject of a bid from Arsenal.
The reports, attributed to an ‘unnamed source’ but detailed in their account of Odemwingie’s future plans, suggested that while Arsenal were willing to match Albion’s undisclosed valuation of the Nigerian international, the player was unhappy at the personal terms being offered.
Whether true or not, it was enough to draw a response from Albion’s sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth, who insisted the player was going nowhere.
Albion are in the middle of negotiations to draw up an improved contract for Odemwingie after his 15-goal impact last season.
Ashworth said: “Our aim is to retain our core players and try to strengthen our squad around them.
“I want to make it clear that Peter Odemwingie is not for sale and remains a key member of our squad.
“We have not received any offers for Peter and we have placed no valuation on his head.
“He has two years left to run on his current Albion contract and talks over a new deal are ongoing.”
Albion are more eager to add to their squad then lose such key figures, to which end they are growing in confidence about their prospects of luring Zoltan Gera back to the Hawthorns.
They are ready to resume talks with Gera’s agent Vladan Filipovic, who has now confirmed that the change in management at the midfielder’s current club Fulham has not changed his client’s prospects – he is looking for a new club.
But Filipovic claims there is interest from an Italian club as well as Albion.
He said: “Maybe this week will be decisive, but his future will be decided for sure before the beginning of July.
“We know he will leave Fulham and it is conceivable that he will stay in England.
“There is interest from Serie A.”
But one player Albion will not be pursuing further is Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng, who is reported to have joined Ukrainian side Dnipro from Spanish outfit Getafe.
English clubs had been reluctant to meet the £7million asking price.
To read our stories in full, log in to the premium 24 website.
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Four games to shape Villa’s season
Villa return to action after a week off, travelling up to face bottom of the table Wigan Athletic. Aston Villa blogger Matthew Turvey asks what is needed to salvage Villa’s season to date, and looks at how the next four games will be critical for Alex McLeish’s men.
Aston Villa FC
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Should cash him in now he will be a marked man this season and we wont get anything for him
Report abuse
I disagree “shed” All strikers are marked men, and if anything he will have more of an idea of how the Premiership operates. That plus hopefully a good strike partner will give him more room to score rarther than assisting as well.
Report abuse
The problem is, TCS, you have to replace him. Yes, we could probably get 8m for him right now, but can we replace his 15 goals for that amount? Will Peace spend the money rather than use it to accumulate more WBA shares?
We only spent 1.75m on him so in my eyes it makes sense to keep him. Even if he leaves in two years time for the same amount, or even nothing, his goals will have been priceless.
He may be a marked man next season, but you cannot defend pace and movement and Odemwingie has that in abundance.
We need another two more seasons in the Prem until we can really establish ourselves. Odemwingie is critical to that: we must do all we can to keep him…
Report abuse
So many times things look rosy after a good season and then a bomb shell hits us. Players like PO are not unearthed too often wether he will repeat a remarkable season again or not is a gamble we need to take. For once, just once it’s worth ripping up the rule book to retain his services and reward him so he stays. What good is £15+ million to us when we will not replace his goals. Just look at blue noses situation now as a result of not scoring goals at this level. Keep fingers crossed that the board see sense.
Boing Boing
Report abuse
Cash him in now? are you for real? and have Fortune or Miller up front scoring all our goals? We need to keep our best players and build not just a good team but a squad!
Report abuse
I would take 5million for odemwingie he is thirty and seems like he is an injury away from been finished.I don’t like the idea of Gera coming back it seems like a step in the wrong direction who next Greening?
Report abuse
Agents? Aren’t you sick of ‘em? If there is genuine interest from Serie A in Zoltan, then take it, mate. Don’t try and push up his deal at the Albion by playing one off against the other. He’s currently recovering from two separate injuries, in any case. Same with Peter’s agent. If he says Go, then his client will go. They call the shots – not the clubs, the players or the fans. Agents are a cancer within the game.
On previous article on Reid, he’d be one of my first names on the teamsheet. A great competitor, a cool head and experienced Prem player. When he played last season, we won or drew virtually every game.
Report abuse
Let’s get it right, every player is for sale at the right price, and Odemwingie is no different from anyone else regardless of what Dan Ashworth says.
However, I think it’s good of him to make this statement as we now know that no one has, as yet, made an offer for him.
Personally I don’t think he’ll go anywhere, he may well be coveted by many clubs, but we are holding all the Aces and from the position of a buying club, the deal just wouldn’t be right.
As for the Gera deal, i’m fed up of reading about it, and I don’t want him back anyway, and purely for footballing reasons only.
Re- Derek Boateng, he’s reported to have signed for Dnipro…….. has he?
It was reported that we had received a bid from Arsenal for Odemwingie!!
Isn’t it awful without any football, mind you we can always read the papers or better still watch these endless squadron’s of Flying Pigs!
Report abuse
1 the corrugated shed / Molineux
Nice try.
6 Dave
This is why you’re not running a football club, £5 million?! Don’t make me laugh! And just what do you base the ‘one injury away from being finished’ on? He had a couple of niggles last season but don’t forget he hasn’t had a break from football in over a year so he was bound to get a few.
I suppose we should sell Mulumbu and Dorrans whilst they’re still young and we can get more money for them. Oh and don’t forget Olsson, he’s getting on a bit now at 28, better flog him fast! Agreed on Gera though.
Report abuse
Anything less than £20M for Peter is a mugs game, unless we have another Peter ready to step up. It’s possible that next season Cox will step up and become a similar asset having not had much opportunity this, but are I don’t think we should bank on it.
Report abuse
With some players their worth is different to their value, and PO is one of those.
His value may be about 8 million – but his goals and level of performance are probably worth 20 million to us – so his sales figure should be somewhere in between.
Other strikers may be valued at 6 or 7 million but their 5 goals a season are actually only worth about a million – swings and roundabouts !!!
Report abuse
I have said it before, and i will say it again. If one of the bigger clubs come knocking and offer Pete say 60k a week, and us 10 mil then Pete will be gone, he is a footballer at the end of the day, if you can’t get home grown local lads to stay loyal then whats the chances of a African/Russian import showing any loyalty. Come on lads lets get real. I hope he stays but their is to many noises coming out of Petes camp, i hope im wrong but i fear Pete will be gone.
Report abuse
Baggiedad
It’s not being reported anywhere really but according to the Dnipro website and now UEFA.com Boateng has signed a 4 year deal…bit of a funny one this considering there are stil news stories coming out about us, Stoke and Sunderland all interested in him!
Report abuse
sounds like a few wolves fans have made a few comments We dont sell our best players fullstop or we be were the wolves was on the last day of the season!
Report abuse
anyone else heared that we have accepted a 5.5 mil bid for mullumbu from fiorentina joke
Report abuse
Mulumbu has just been sold for £5.5mill , so much for not selling !
Report abuse
anyone else heared we sellin mullumbu for 5.5 mil to fiorentina joke
Report abuse
Corrugated Shed/Dave
Ridiculous statements given it’s taken us years to get a good striker, sell him and we may as well sell our Premiership place. Who are we realisically going to get that’s better for about £5-8m?
TB
Mostly agree but couldn’t resist a dig at JP? If you want him to sell the club, he’s going to have to align the shareholding to make it more appealing, hence buying out smaller shareholders. I personally don’t and don’t think we can be overly-critical of what he has done.
Gera critics
Would you prefer Giles Barnes? That’s who he is effectively replacing in a risk-free investment.
Report abuse
12
It’s not going to happen this year at least mate. He’s nearly 30 and no way will any of the big boys be willing to spend circa £10 million on him which is probably the only amount JP would consider selling for seeing as he’s ours for another 2 years. Plus we’re in the middle of negotiating a new contract with him which he’s said himself he’d be happy to sign.
On another note, talkSPORT have said that Mulumbu’s going to Fiorentina for £5.5 million. Now, I don’t know if they’ve ever heard of JP but considering he sold Davies for £9mill, Kamara for £7mill and Greening for £5mill I highly doubt he would sell our player of the year for that amount when we’ve got him tied down to a long term contract!
Report abuse
13 LMS
If it’s true, then OK.
But it’s not the end of the world…..Next!
Ain’t it great being a Baggie!
Report abuse
Warren
I’m not a Gera critic, but if we are going to sign a winger to replace Barnes I would rather we move for someone with pace who can come off the bench and make an impact. True Gera is a risk free venture but I would rather see Kamara back than Gera given that he has pace in abundance and would scare the life out of defenders when brought on late in a game. Plus he’s also a free transfer and can play up front as we (and the Dingles) all know.
Report abuse
Too many Wulfies on here this morning, stirring it up like a Moulinex. Go and play in your own kitchen and maybe you’ll have a pie and a pint for tea!
We have a 30 old goal scorer wrapped up for two more years, regardless of what his agent says or intimates. At the moment, he’s still a good asset if we have to sell due to a big, big offer. If not, we get the best years he has left. Now, if I were his agent, I’d try for a 4 year deal at whatever was a good offer. Killing a goose that lays golden eggs is still a good adage.
Two years from now, we shall be hearing, “I love it here at West Brom. and I’d like another contract to see out my time.
Report abuse
Warren – Yes, couldn’t resist though I don’t think you can argue that the money wouldn’t be re-invested.
I don’t necessarily want him to sell – he has done a fantastic job with the club – but would rather he invested a little more back into the team. That doesn’t mean we have to rush out and spend 50m on players at 60k per week, but try and find a balance.
Spending club money (or more specifically having the club secure a loan) to consolidate the shareholding in our first season back in the Prem wouldn’t have been my first priority.
Anyway, we digress…
Report abuse
LMS
I see what you’re saying re: Gera, but with Thomas and Tchoyi I think we’ll always have one explosive wide outlet on the bench. For free I don’t think it’s completely without it’s merits. He certainly brings an aerial threat at both ends of the pitch which can only help.
As for Kamara- I agree about his assets, but after the way he strutted about that Wembley pitch against Derby when we needed him most, and all the subsequent talk of dressing room unrest that season, I’d be happy never to see him in an Albion shirt again. Much like Ricardo Fuller who’s also on a free, there are attributes we’d love to see challenging/alongside Odemwingie, but sadly not the character to match.
Report abuse
14. Like you have never been relegated? lol..
You shouldn’t sell him and I don’t think you will, has the look to me of a player that has found his club and if his head gets turned by £££ then I reckon his career will suffer… (not his bank balance obviously)
Report abuse
*Sorry, Fuller not on a free, but supposedly available…….
Report abuse
Never been a Kamara fan. Selfish, self-centred, at times disinterested. All of the assets, none of the drive. Shall I also remind everyone, we have Tchoyi. May well be our new secret weapon for 2011-12 season.
Report abuse
Ive been reading some of the comments on this site and some are bonkers! Peter Odemwingie is a good player, he suprised me when i witnessed his performance at molineux, i thought he played very well, however 20 million for him as one fan on here as put is madness, every player has his price but as he is 30 next birthday and with one year left on contract surley a 7-10 mill tops, i wouldnt pay 10 but peace is good at transfer business. If Arsenal come in for him, it will ultimatley be down to peter to make a descision, does he earn 30-40k a week at albion and be a hero and play every week or take what might be his last chance to move to a big club and earn 40-60k maybe and sit on the bench most weeks. Whatever he decides this will be the most lucerative contact of his career and his agent may well have a big say!
Report abuse
West Brom have distanced themselves from claims they have agreed to sell Youssouf Mulumbu.
Reports overseas claimed the Baggies had agreed a fee of £5.5million with Italian club Fiorentina.
Those stories have since been picked up by media in the UK.
But the reports are wide-of-the-mark.
There has been no contact from the Florence-based club, let alone talks or agreements of any kind.
Albion have no plans to sell their reigning player-of-the-season, who is contracted until 2014 and would command a fee way and above the speculative figures.
Report abuse
18 Warren
Re Gera,
Point taken that Giles Barnes is being replaced, but really Gera? Can’t we do better than him?
And risk free?……..signing on fee, agents fee, wages etc!
Don’t you think we’ve moved on?
Report abuse
Redge – fair points though I think most sensible fans are stating that his worth to the Albion is 20m. His actual transfer value, bearing in mind his age, is probably around 8m. But you can’t replace 15 goals and 7 assists with that amount of money.
Report abuse
TB
Do you not think we have found a balance? We are roughly breaking even and out-performing all the debt-ridden teams around us.
To my mind, JP’s made two offers to shareholders at a cost of no more than a few million? I’m not saying I entirely agree with that but is that what you’re saying difference between where we’re at now and ‘finding a balance’ as you put it? Or do you think we go further, in which case where do you propose the funds come from for the little more expenditure?
Also, where’s the correlation between spending a little more and success? We spent a little more under TM, where did it get us?
JP faces endless criticism on his spending policies; he publicly puts the club up for sale; nobody makes an offer; JP faces criticism for trying to align the shares to make the club more appealing to an investor. Whilst you make a good point about the timing, to some extent he can’t do right for doing wrong.
Report abuse
Getting bored of hearing about the Odemwingie and Gera stories now , i wouldnt go for gera, he’s 32 and a step backwards, would prefer to see a pacey winger as Brunt and Morrison arnt exactly blessed with pace, we only have Thomas , and even he doesn’t use his pace to take on his fullback most the time. Would like to see a Scott Sinclair type of winger. Boing Boing
Report abuse
Redge999
That’s a fair-minded and rational post, but the Premier League doesn’t deal in rational valuations. If staying up represents £20-30m in revenue, then selling Odemwingie for £8m can’t be seen as good business when buying a striker like him is so so difficult as we know from past experience, particularly when you’re seeing the likes of Andy Carroll and Torres move for £85m.
Baggiedad
Of the players we let go, some we had options to extend, so financially we’d have accounted for wages for another 12 months anyway. I don’t think a signing on fee and agent fees (immediate write-offs) are going to dent our budget much.
Ultimately if Roy thinks he can improve us, then we have to back that, although probably like you, I’m not sure he’ll be an immediate first-choice.
Report abuse
Warren
I like many on here had been clamouring for Tchoyi to be utilised in a more central role last season as he is wasted on the wing and exposes our full backs too much. After the Newcastle game I would have thought that RH would surely be looking at Tchoyi to be the main back up or even partner for Odemwingie? If that’s the case then I would hope that we move for a quick winger rather than Gera who has never been blessed with pace and at this stage of his career would probably be better utilised in the centre of the park or just behind Odemwingie.
Agree with the Kamara comments, what I meant was a player in his mould – minus not the prima donna personality.
TonyWBA
I’ve just read that article too, there’s no chance in Hell that JP would lose Mulumbu for a pitiful £5.5 million lol
Report abuse
33 BRR.
I agree with you, I think there is that much rubbish being put in the press lately that commenting on ‘proposed’ transfers is a waste of time at the moment.
Except of course that Talksport have just announced Wolves have signed a keeper called Doris.
Report abuse
28 Redge.
Where have you been? Always good to hear from you on here.
I think Happy sums it up prefectly at post 11. I know that being a Wulfie you probably don’t read any of Happy’s posts.
Report abuse
TRBH
Doris will fit right in with Ronald, mercurial full-back and Guadeloupe’s finest, not of course forgetting Wolves’ other resident pensioner, Jody Craddock.
Report abuse
34 Warren
The point I was making, was that Gera for Barnes, was not a financial like for like trade.
Given the state Barnes was in when he came to the club, I wouldn’t mind betting that the up front monies we would be paying to Gera would probably account for Barnes’s wages for the whole season!
Report abuse
Over on the dark side there are now 7 (seven) Jamie O’Hara threads open.
Also a very funny article from a couple of days ago when Wolves hired male models to show off the new kit around the town and encourage people to go to the Club Shop to buy one.
Only problem was that when they got to the shop they hadn’t come in yet.
Never mind Shadrag, our little tinpot club could never organise something like that.
Report abuse
Hi Warren,
You make some great points though I believe we more than break even. We have a cumulative net transfer activity in the 10s of millions and have zero debt (at times we have shown a debt figure in the 7m range…but then minimal interest for the year).
2009 figures showed an operating profit of 7.7m and net transfer activity of 7m. This doesn’t take into account the manipulation of when we receive transfer fees (for tax purposes; or otherwise).
We now won’t see WBA accounts for 12 months as JP has formed a new holding company. His previous share dealings have however been fairly underhand, including buying discounted shares from his own family members, thus triggering the need to offer the same price to existing minority shareholders. It is my opinion that the club is run to fill JP’s coffers. The positive knock-on effect of this is that WBA is extremely well run and makes a profit.
Difficult to argue with that and the fact that we now have a very good West Brom team. However, had Hodgson not taken over (and I have been told by those ‘in the know’ that Peace didn’t want him) then we may not have survived. And thus the merry-go-round would have continued.
I haven’t ever run a football club, so my opinion is fairly uninformed. I’m also a passionate WBA fan so it is fairly biased! But I can’t help but wonder whether there is a balance and by that I mean an extra 4-6m available per year to invest in the playing squad.
Regardless, it’s a great time to be a Baggie and I can’t wait for next season.
Boing Boing
Report abuse
It’s amazing how these rumours stir people up!
I said last summer that the only time that matters is when we have an official announcement that someone’s signed a contract.
Mainly,it’s either media speculation (big fibs),or jealous dingles desperately trying to disturb us.
These main ‘stories’ seem to be coming from Nigeria and Italy,and Albion say they know nothing about them.End of.
I’ve also said that there’ll always be speculation about our best players,it’s the way things work,but if they did leave,we’ll make a big profit on them,and I trust DA to come up with good quality replacements.
So in the words of Michael Winner,calm down,Dears.
Or Mallorca Kev,tranquillooooooooo……..
Report abuse
40 TRBH-
maybe the reason wolves fans couldn’t find the new strip is that they all automatically went to Matalan to queue for these new outfits…….
Report abuse
The real bully hoo, ive been looking and observing but not commenting, yes number 11 makes some good points. Ill be back on tomorrow to start the wolves albion starting 11 debate out of both clubs and add a bench this time. see what response is, so think of your team and formation
Report abuse
14 Steve Briscoe – if you sell your best players, certainly the 2 in the press today, you’ll be down way before the last game of the season. But you wont and they will be there next season.
Lets face it Wolves and Albion will both be stronger next year. We are spending a bit but WBA will too.
Be a good season next year, hopefully Swansea, Wigan and Norwich go down………. QPR will struggle too. Maybe Villa lol
Report abuse
43. Yet Albion fans were voted worst dressed in the country a few years ago, bizarre that…
Report abuse
Apparently its true :(
Heard from a source inside our club that he’s on his way but for 5.5 million rising to 7 with add on’s….
Cant see the logic of this, selling top players and bringing in free b’s or has been’s from 3 years ago….
Report abuse
by the way Derek Boateng has joined another club………..
Report abuse
well IF LIVERPOOL CAN PAY 35MILLION FOR CARROL WITH PO CLEARLY BEING ONE OF THE HI LIGHTS OF THE PREM LAST YEAR 15 GOALS …HOW MUTCH IS PO WORTH NOW?50,60,70 MILL? MORE? 35 MILLION FOR CARROL ,WHO IS NO WAY AS GOOD AS ODEM,MAKES HIS VALUE FRIGHTENING ,.JP HOLDS THE CARDS ROYS UNDER NO PRESSURE TO SELL,GONNA BE INTRESTING only players id cash in on now is………………CARSON
IBENEZ
JARA
CHECK
MILLER
BEDNAR
FORTUNE
IN…………….GIVEN
GERA
PARKER?
VAUGHN
VELA
CAHILL
DEMPSY
Report abuse
TB
Are you referring to overall net debt? This doesn’t correspond to interest as the predominant reason for our net debt position recently has been valuation of assets (i.e. players) depending on which division we’re in.
If you’re referring to an actual bank balance then I don’t know, you’d have to ask JP, but a balance sheet figure tells gives you a balance on 30th June, interest is accrued on an average balance throughout the year.
I don’t have the accounts in front of me but we generally don’t operate with huge surpluses, if at all.
From memory I think JP’s salary is around £600-800k per annum??? Our staff salaries amount to £30m+ per annum, this eats into our Prem turnover (around 70% I think). If you add on all other expenditure the club has then each Prem year in the past we’ve had about £10-15m to play with in the transfer market without pushing into the red for that 12 month period.
I appreciate you’ve put together a good, structured argument, but you can’t then deride JP because someone knows someone who’s in the know. JP’s the majority shareholder, if he didn’t want Hodgson, I very much doubt we’d have got Hodgson.
I don’t doubt JP makes a few quid as things stand, but that’s visible as it’s all salary (no dividends). The only way he’ll make big, big money out of the Albion is through a profit on the sale of his shares; the margin of his profit will be dictated by club value and how well we’re doing at the time, therefore it’s a win-win situation as far as I can see.
Report abuse
49 WBA 78.
Much as I like some of your players to come in I think you’re sufferung from Lupophobia, similar to rabies but normally only contracted by wolves. You haven’t been bitten in Wolverhampton lately have you?
Report abuse
Baggiedad
We’re speculating so it’s hard to say. I don’t doubt Gera will probably earn more than Barnes, however Gera left when our wage structure was lower than it is now, for an alleged lower wage at Fulham than we were prepared to offer him at the time. Therefore assuming he’ll not be getting a wage increase with this move given his age, I doubt we’ll be breaking the bank for him.
Also to consider- Meite and Zuiverloon may well have been on more than Jones and McAuley, so perhaps overall we’re still at the level we were at somewhere around there, with these three hopefully making more of an impact on the first-team than the three that left.
LMS
I sort of agree with your point on pace, but perhaps Roy has one of those up his sleeve too.
Report abuse
41 TB.
I’m always suspicious of ‘people in the know.’ They are usually attntion seekers who know nothing.
I agree that it would be lovely if JP was altruistic and gave his time and effort purely for the love of the club.
Or do I?
Wasn’t that what Sir Jack did up the road and look how that turned out. Perhaps our interests are best served when they are also the best interests of the man running the club.
Besides better a man with a connection to the club than some supposedly rich foreigner that we know nothing about.
Despite the fact that he hasn’t led us on to overtake Man Ure and beat Barcelona in the Champions League Final he hasn’t done a bad job has he? Unless the people in the know know more than us.
Report abuse
Oh how I hate these non footballing months.
It’s all drivel talk.
Papers are struggling for stories, so lets go fictional.
Why doe’s anyone bite or get involved it’s only Dingles messing around normaly.
Let’s not have any players returning for seconds.It never works.
Let’s just wait and see what DA and whoever unveils, when there’s something to report.
BAGGIESBAGGIESBAGGIES
Report abuse
Baggy Trousers
If it was true, why would the club issue a statement of denial?
Report abuse
47 Shadrag.
That really is you this time isn’t it, you naughty little boy.
Report abuse
Another Jamie O’Hara thread while poor old Doris only has two so far.
Report abuse
Why would we sell Mulumbu for what? 5.5mill
lol
Who on earth started that 1 ?
I’ve had enough now!!!
BAGGIESBAGGIESBAGGIES
Report abuse
Albion wont sell him that would be madness, unless he puts in a transfer request when he hears of the Interest and possible wages from his agent.
Report abuse
Warren
Don’t you ever get tired of explaining “where the money goes”? We have this rubbish every close season,I’m not saying you’re talking rubbish but surely by now they know it’s not down to the size of the fee paid etc. TB said JP didn’t want Roy,who does he think over ruled him? I know every body is entitled to express their opinion but come on LMS, Kamara? do you really think a bloke like him would fit into any club with a great team spirit?
As for Baggie Trousers I think he’s been talking to his one eyed trouser snake.Nobody of worth is going any where, if they do it’s chicken tikka’s and a pint of Bathams on me for everybody I’ve said is talking rubbish.
Adéu
Report abuse
Unless it’s really silly money!
Adéu
Report abuse
52 Warren.
That’s interesting because at the time ‘the people in the know’ said that he’d doubled his wages at Fulham.
Report abuse
60 Kev.
I went on the SkySport website this morning and it’s got a picture of the Arsenal badge with an article about PO. My immediate reaction was ‘Oh b******s, they’ve made an enquiry.’
When I clicked on the full story it said ‘unknown sources in Nigeria have said that Arsenal and Chelsea are interested.’
Chelsea hadn’t even got a manager at the time. Just goes to show though that even Nigeria has ‘people in the know.’ Wonder if any of them are related to PO’s agent?
Report abuse
PS Warren.
I know he’s a big bloke and I don’t want to upset him but please ignore Kev’s instructions. I continue to learn a lot from your explanation of the club’s finances, something I’m fairly ignorant about.
Report abuse
Personally,i couldn’t care less if people think JP is lining his pockets. I couldn’t care less if he’s making things more stream lined for any prospective take over either. Be that to make us more attractive or for his financial gain. What i care about is that i think he’s doing a very good job of husbanding our tight finances. Yes,i have been frustrated on many occasions that he seemed to be saving on wages by getting players at the last minute,thus denying an adequate pre season and time for players to settle their families. However,he and Dan Ashworth are trying to address that so far with the signings of the new lads. Not marquee granted,but who says they need to be? Was Odemwingie? No! As For all of the speculation,some of it’s drivel. Some maybe true. The object is not to get too wound up by it all. Despite Shanks’s claim,football IS NOT more important than life and death. Presumably the same applies to most on here;i’ve had some pretty life changing experiences over the years and so TRY to take speculation in my stride (that’s until i found out that i am allegedly Cyril’s speculative love child!?!LOL). Tell you what though,it all just adds to the spice of the coming season doesn’t it? Sorry to drone on and cheers for your patience. COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!!!!!!
Report abuse
60 Kev-
I can talk as much rubbish as you like if it means you buying me a tikka and Bathams.
But you already know how much rubbish I can talk……..
Report abuse
Can someone tell me what language TB and Warren are speaking?
I started reading both their posts,and thought I’d strayed on to the Financial Times site.
It’s all very well looking at the expenditure,net debt,operating profit,etc.,but what I really want to know is if there’s an increase in the cost of balti pies at half-time next season?
And how much should I invest in ‘Jack’s Rocket’(no relation),running in the 3.20 at Redcar?
Report abuse
Kev
See my point at 35 re kamara
47
Care to name your source? No? Didn’t think so
Report abuse
PETER must stay he’s priceless don’t understand talk of Carson going until we have a replacement re striker last season we were linked with Ngog very mobile sort how much would Vela cost. Great interest transfer and
rumour talk keeps the interest till season
starts difficult fixtures inevitably away to
Chelsea whats happening with Borga Valero???
Report abuse
£3m offer = No comment
£4m offer = “We’re going to give him a new contract”
£5m offer = “He is not for sale, we’re an ambitious club”
£6m offer = “HE IS NOT FOR SALE EVERYBODY OUT THERE!!”
£7m offer = “Thank you very much. Will that be cash or cheque?”
Report abuse
70, hi lonely welcome back, how’s your summer been?
Report abuse
Nicky Shorey, i play golf with him, good player too.
And he said they dont want to sell either but if the moneys right they go in order to strenghten again, money will be put back into buying players dont worry.
But at the moment there aint alot of it for Roy to spend…
And im not a dingle thanks very much.
Report abuse
Baggie trousers
The sale of Mulumbu and Odemwinngie, would lead to strenghtening only one area, the financial one.
Unless Dan Ashworth has a few aces up his sleeve, it would be incomprehensible that these two players could be replaced adequately, given what this club, historically, is willing to pay out.
Report abuse
Kev
I’m sorry, I don’t set out to write these endless posts, but I can’t bear any sense of unsubstantiated injustice, was always backchatting the teachers at school. Add that to a passion for the Albion = argumentative, inane rant when the two are thrown in together. It’s perhaps a bit like how you are with supporters not being supportive, non? If you could bring me one of your Jamaican woodbines next time we meet, it might do the trick.
TRBH
I’m glad they don’t send everyone to sleep.
CR78
Again, apologies, it’s just my field of work. I’m not even very good at it, nor do I earn a lot of money, but I know a little bit. As for Jack’s Rocket, if it’s anything like the rocket Sir Jack put up his beloved Wulfs in the 90′s, I’d say it’ll be wearing bright colours, have the best and most expensive jockey, but probably fizzle out mid-race and finish a disappointing 7th.
Report abuse
Baggie trousers
I’m not doubting you’ve played golf with Nicky Shorey, but it sounds a lot like an opinion rather than fact.
It’s a bit like having an e-mail sent round my work saying the boss might leave if he can find a better job. If any of that was the case, they wouldn’t be telling me, much like Nicky Shorey won’t know what Ashworth, Hodgson and Peace talk about in their meetings.
Also, ‘they go if the money’s right’- well of course they do, that applies to every player in the world, but what money’s right? £15-20m? and who’s gonna pay that? It certainly won’t be £5.5m for Mulumbu…..
Report abuse
Baggie Trousers
Where do you play? I’ve played on the same course with Shorey quite a few times….
Report abuse
74 Warren-
I wasn’t serious,I was only having a bit of fun.My wife works for one of the ‘big banks’(stop booing everybody),so I’m used to the financial stuff.
It’s nice to have someone posting here with your intelligence,because the only one’s that don’t understand you are the dingles.
They read your financial statements and think you must be one of the Albion Directors,it’s completely above their heads.
See you for a pint in the near future.
Report abuse
72 trousers ’round your a***-
Of course you’ll say you’re not a dingle,I don’t think many people WOULD admit to being a wolves fan.
And I don’t suppose you know anyone called Rebecca either,do you?
Report abuse
Baggietrousers, you the same bloke that tried to convince us you were Jamie O’Hara the other, then spelt his name wrong?!! Not very good at this winding up lark are you!
Boing Boing!!
Report abuse
Warren
Mate I wasn’t having a pop a you, I just can’t believe that some fans still think that JP pockets the majority of the money just because we don’t pay big transfer fees, I’ve gid it up as lost cause.
Cantello
It’s your round mate!!!!
Where’s Max? since our last bit of banter he’s disappeared again, hope we ain’t upset him, he must know we mean it with affection.
If you go Scotty very best of luck in the future and I hope you regain your England place and ram it down all the Banker’s throats.
Adéu
Report abuse
80 Kev
I’ve been concerned about Max,maybe he’s back down Sandwell Valley.
Or flying over to you for therapy sessions.
Adeu.
Report abuse
I’m talking about debt. Over the years we seem to have a 5-7m debt position around financial statement time but practically no interest. What I’m implying is that it is then easy for JP to state that the club is in debt (obviously those with a good understanding of financial statements would see the increased cash position etc).
The fact we are left with something close to 15m to invest in the playing squad is exactly my point. Could we invest closer to that figure (my guess is we average 7-10m, though possibly less last year). However, you correctly point out that spending doesn’t equal success. Hodgson hasn’t exactly covered himself in glory in that area: overpaying for half of our prima donnas these past few years.
As for the ‘in the know’ comment, it’s always easy, and somewhat understandable, to criticise statements like that. Regardless, I value this persons information: DA convinced Peace to hire Hodgson over Hughton, his preferred choice.
Anyway, it’s been an interesting discussion, the catalyst being my snide remark about JP! I think we’re in agreement on the most part; my overriding question is could we do a little more to ensure we become an established Premiership team?
Cheers
Report abuse
TB
A net debt position on a balance sheet doesn’t correspond to interest. You can have £35 billion in the bank but be in a net debt position.
JP isn’t declaring we are in net debt, the accounts have to, by law, be produced in line with generally accepted accounting practices and be independently audited. So as much as they can be slightly manipulated, he can’t create net debt if there isn’t one?
Also, from my memory I believe we’ve flipped between net debt and in the black a few times?? This often depends on which division we’re in. I’m fairly sure we haven’t been in net debt for several years consecutively?
The assumption we have £15m left over is from the 2009 accounts and beforehand? Last year we invested £7-10m in the playing staff, but changed the wage structure, giving Scharner £30-40k per week and new contracts to Brunt, Mulumbu, Dorrans and one or two others. That in itself should be an extra £3-4m on the wage bill.
I haven’t linked these together well as am at work typing this quickly, I appreciate your argument too and that it’s at least constructive. I’m just not sure where this extra money’s supposed to be hidden as everything JP takes out is visible.
Anyway, like you say, I think we probably agree on quite a few things!! Cheers.
Report abuse
P.S. Under Tony Mowbray we invested £23m in the playing squad before our Premiership campaign, so I guess it has to be balanced somewhere?
Report abuse
Hi mate, sorry but I was talking about loans when I refer to debt. (No “net” debt in my statement!) Off the top of my head, we had around £7m in loans in 2009 but only £90k in interest. It was a recurring theme around that time (a fairly significant loan figure but no interest).
Point taken re the increase in salaries.
Re Mowbray’s Prem season, I’d be interested to see a breakdown on that figure. Seem to remember c.£16m spent plus we had a few substantial outgoings that season and the one previous (Curtis Davies’ £10m fee came in that year).
We have of course invested in the Academy etc so that would also eat into any money available for the playing squad.
For the record, I’m in now way accusing Peace of fraudulent behaviour or taking money out of the club (although perhaps operating within a grey area with regards to share dealings). I just feel that there is perhaps a little more money to spend. Maybe there isn’t and yes, for every few million you spend on a player, you then have the million+ on wages.
I’m arguing from a pretty difficult position seeing as we’ve had our best ever Prem finish, so on that note I’ll congratulate him and the team! Keep up the good work…
Cheers
Report abuse
Warren.
As I’ve stated before I always find your explanations of the club’s finances both fascinating and enlightening.
TB.
Likewise posters like yourself provoke the debate as you are obviously very knowledgeable and I thank you both for your time and efforts.
Report abuse
OMG ! Dont shoot me down, im only saying what i got told off one of our own players thats all.
We dont have any financial clout to spend on players so the only way to do that is to sell our assets which we bought in for very little.
And i play at the belfry sometimes and the west mid golf course in Solihull if you care to want a game with me i play off a handicap of 8.
and if/when we sell these players hope you can be man enough to come on here and you were wrong and i was right !
Report abuse