Tudgay Tug-O-War
Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 12:58
SWFC NewsThings have happened so fast that you might not have seen it all, so here's a recap.
Owls fans were delighted back on Monday 18th May, when it was announced through Sheffield Wednesday's official site that Tudgay had agreed a new contract. It was seemingly taken as a formality that signing a new contract would happen when the SWFC, Wednesdayite and PFA Championship Player of the Year returned from his deserved end-of-season holidays.
Towards the end of June, rumours began to surface about interest being shown in Tudgay by Burnley manager Owen Coyle. Many supporters dismissed such rumours based on the previous contract-signing agreement, however most agreed there would be a basis of truth in the rumour as Coyle was known to have previously admired the player.
Things heated up on 28th June when the Sunday papers were full of noise about Burnley putting in a bid, thought to be around £1.5million, for Tudgay, which then led to SWFC having to officially deny any offer had been received by the club.
In a small initial blow to supporters confidence, Tudgay's agent - former Sheffield Wednesday player Darryl Powell - went on record to admit that he had previously spoken with Burnley about Tudgay, going on to say: "I would have thought that if Burnley were interested then he would be interested because obviously they’re in the Premier League, which is where every player wants to be."
Laws also went on to have a dig at Burnley for their part in the drama, saying "this is a desperate move by Burnley to unsettle the player.I have spoken to Owen Coyle and I have stressed that it would take a damned sight more money than has been quoted to prise him away".
Coyle then stepped in to have his say about any bid: "We thought it was a very fair offer and it is still there if Wednesday want to take us up on it". Powell also responded, saying "he [Tudgay] would love the chance to meet with the manager [Coyle] and talk"
"Marcus does not want to sign a new deal at Sheffield Wednesday as he is keen on a move to Burnley", Powell added as he quickly began to lose even more favour with the Sheffield Wednesday faithful.
Laws again firmly reiterated his position on the bid, confirming: "We said right from the start that we were not interested in selling Marcus, but Burnley put in a derogatory offer and, as is often the case, that turned his head
"You can understand the lad wants to play in the Premier League, but we're not a selling club and he's one of our best players."
Almost two weeks had now passed since the initial bid rumour in the Sunday press and supporters were lifted to see Tudgay travel with the Wednesday squad for the pre-season tour of Malta, but the story hadn't quite finished there. Burnley made a formal bid, this time thought to be valued at around £1.75million, which led to Sheffield Wednesday Chairman Lee Strafford describing the offer as 'derisory'.
"We recently sold a left winger for a significantly greater amount than is now being offered for one of the best strikers in the Championship and the player was in an identical contractual situation to Marcus", Strafford said, adding: "we would like Burnley to act in a more realistic and respectable manner".
Strafford then took another shot at agant Darryl Powell, "it's disappointing that an agent would act in such a cavalier manner when he is supposed to be protecting the interests of the player and also the right of the club to protect its assets".
Burnley's Coyle was widely reported to be calm at the swipe from the Owls chairman, saying "it was turned down - Sheffield Wednesday felt fit to do that. I have no problem with that. If they want to say anything to besmirch the good name of Burnley that is entirely up to them".
However, agent Powell wasn't so calm and was accused by some supporters as 'burning bridges' with Sheffield Wednesday by saying "If [the offer] is 'derisory' in this current financial climate or 'unrealistic' for a Championship player moving to a Premier League club, then I don't know anything about transfer fees". Powell added "Marcus Tudgay is my client and I have to give him what I believe is the best advice".
The whole saga seems set to rumble on for some days to come as Powell today went on to say: "I plan to sit down with Marcus next week and we will decide what is best for him to do. Obviously, handing in a transfer request is an option and we will talk through all our options".
What are your thoughts on the Tudgay saga? Who is to blame for the situation rumbling on? Have your say in the comments below.
cobblers.. what happened to loyalty and being a man of his word?
The club offered him a 3 year contract.. THREE years.. not bad these days. One to which he agreed verbally. Maybe the club thought there was a certain amount of trust there eh?
Agents like Powell are holding clubs to ransom. What happens to his 'client' if they offer him 2 years at Burnley.. they get a right old hammering in the premier league (it could happen) and he's out on his ear looking for a club again in 12 months? Manager's will be aware of his loyalty then won't they and 3 year deals won't be so quicj in coming.
I personally hope he does the right thing and stays but I very much doubt it. Wednesday's fault my eye.
What has the player got to say to all this?
Tell him the offer is still open. If he doesn't like it, tell him he can always ask for a transfer. If he's intent on causing this upset, a spell in the reserve team, or out on loan, may be preferrable to a disgruntled player.
Agents are a cancer spreading on the body of football.
The FA need to stand firm and legislate.
In cases like this where the agent has created unrest the answer should be simple.
Tf the player is ultimately transferred , then the agent should be fined by the FA a sum of money equivalent to the transfer fee . This fine to be paid to the FA before the transfer is binding . The agent and player to be suspended totally from the game until the fine is paid.
This should rid the game of parasitic vermin such as greedy agents
The facts are:
The lad wants to go!
Tudgay wants to better himself at a current Premier League Club.
The lad wants to go!
he has only one year left on his contract.
The lad wants to go!
He didn't sign the new offer (besides the crap coming out of Wednesday from club & fans alike, I know its Yarkshire but crikey I haven't heard as much bleating since I went to New Zealand)
The lad wants to go.
£1.75m is a fair offer for a 26 year old with no Prem experience.(£5m-don't make me laugh)
Oh and by the way ......The lad wants to go!
1 season premiership wonders, thats all that Burnley will be if tudgay wants to go then take th money and run, he wasn't playing that well towards the end of last season anyway, and he'll end up exactly the same as Brunty, playing against us again in the CHAMPIONSHIP. as for the last comment made by the glory hunting burnley FAN ah ah! how can they take the mick out of the Yorkshire accent, the best thing to come out of lancashire is Phil Cool ah ah! so take a looooook at my booooook lancashire hot pot
he obviously wants to go as he would of signed by now if he was commited to the cause at hillsborough.
there is no room for uncommited players as that was the down fall of wednesday in the late 90,s a cancer that ripped through the club and left us where we are today.
we are on a slow mend and cant afford this pathetic situation we seem to be getting into.
Let him go and let it be a lesson and a reminder to the other players as the club and fans are bigger than a players greed!
A man that goes back on his word is not a man, grow some knackers and bugger off to burnley judas.
i think the best thing all round would be to let him go to burnley but for at least £3 million, after one season he will be back in the championship as burnley will be religated thats for sure cant see what he is thinking of wanting to play for a small time club that will be lucky to win more than 5 games all season
Players have to be made to honour contracts.The clubs should make a stand on this matter, and remember agents are only in it for themselves or they would work for free. When agents tout players around the clubs without the permission of the club to whom the player is contracted their licence should be withdraw and a fine equal to the players value imposed.Any club that them deals with an unlicenced agent should be automatical relegated two divisions.It is time the clubs large and small got some bottle and put a stop to the system as it currently operates.Where a contract is not worth the paper it is wrote on.
The Owls need players who want to play for Wednesday. Marcus has always given 110% for us and has always been a gentelman, on & off the pitch. But no-one can deny any professional a crack at the starlight - in what could be any layer's last season. No-one owes anyone anything. If he goes, just ask quietly where Brunt & MacLean are now. If he stays, the blade-thrasher will win far more than money can buy. Same for young Mark too.
Just to remind that half wit 'ClaretChris' of the recent transfers from Wednesday. Brunt relegated with West Brom, McClean stuttering in the reserves of a club spirralling towards Div1, Deon Burton relegated with Charlton. Have Tudguy but don't say we didn't warn you. By the way, did the record get stuck 'The lad wants to go' or r u really a pig fan from across in S2
