25 Apr 2024 19:17:18
Ed it has been reported that Dan Ashworth is taking Newcastle to arbitration to try and resolve the issue of moving onto his new job.
To me this is a very bad look and may not reflect well on them when they replace Ashworth or maybe even when they try to buy players would clubs/ players see it this way?
Or am I looking at it wrongly, I'm not trying to absolve united they may not have acted right in this either.
{Ed002's Note - It is a case of someone signing a contract they wish to break and the compensation that is goining to be required to be negotiated. In terms of transfers, it won't be a huge issue, but it needs resolving.}
28 Apr 2024 11:40:17
I don't blame Newcastle at all, they've worked hard to create a set up that can help build them into a top side. Then an already established top side (that is currently in a slump) look to come and take a key part from them.
Ultimately they know they can't stop someone looking to move on and it makes no sense trying to keep someone who wants to be somewhere else.
Yet why roll over and get their tummy tickled. They will fight and they are well within their rights to demand that anything written in a legally binding contract is fulfilled.
If we, and/ or Ashworth want some of those legally binding conditions lifted or not enforced then we need to negotiate that.
While Newcastle will know that ultimately they can't stop Ashworth leaving, they will look to protect their beat interests. They almost certainly don't want him working for a rival club at a time where he could impact their plans, particularly in terms of summer transfer plans/ targets. While the longer until he can start working for a rival the longer before he can start making their rival stronger.
The club would have understood and knew this before they made him their No.1 target. They will be thinking long term and appreciate it's better to have a turbulent or at least tricky first summer as they don't have all their key people in place, but actually have the right people coming in. Than it is to bring in the wrong people just because they are available right away.
That sort of short term thinking has been everything that has been wrong with our club over the past decade.
From not being able to get our first choice target (FdJ) to then move to signing an older player on a massive contract (Casemiro) to fill the gap. When a younger player with potential to become a top player would have been a better alternative. They would have been cheaper and have more longevity. But the focus was on the here and now, so we got the expensive, decking, older, short term option.
Ashworth will join, as will Berrada, while Wilcox is already in. Others will no doubt join over the next 18 months in various roles across the club.
This was never going to be a quick fix, a 500m summer to bring in all the key players and to challenge for the title next season. This is a 3-5 year rebuilding project. Something we won't really be in a position to judge it's success or failure probably much before 2030.
We just need to let them get on with it.