Get-out clause

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Sorry if its been discussed before but I've been at work all day and there is a massive number of new threads to wade through.

 

I think I read on either the BBC website or ceefax that Owen has some sort of get-out clause in his contract. If he's not happy in a year of if someone bids a specific amout for him he can go?

 

Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

[Gemmill 44814]

There probably is. But all the stuff in the press is conjecture masquerading as fact IMO. How the fuck could they know what's on a contract which is yet to even be signed?

[Gejon 2]

I have heard rumours of a £12m get-out clause but i really can't see Freddy doing this, he wouldn't take the lad on loan so he is hardly going to risk forking out £5m to have him here for just a years + wages!!

[Baggio 0]

Gotta admit i'm worried about it, Owen's done an interview with the times so all should be revealed tomorrow...

[Gemmill 44814]

Gotta admit i'm worried about it, Owen's done an interview with the times so all should be revealed tomorrow...

23663[/snapback]

 

I doubt it. He'll no sooner tell them that than he will tell them what his weekly wage is. They've no right to know.

[Craig 6682]

This is the same press who said he'd never sign for Newcastle United in a million years.....

 

Fuck 'em, they're talking shite out of their arses! Like I said yesterday, they're trying to bullshit their way out of a corner.

[Baggio 0]

This is the same press who said he'd never sign for Newcastle United in a million years.....

 

Fuck 'em, they're talking shite out of their arses! Like I said yesterday, they're trying to bullshit their way out of a corner.

23676[/snapback]

 

Perhaps you're right, they spent enough time banging on about his supposed buy out clause from Madrid which seems to have been bullshit.

[flagpole corner 0]

Chris Bascombe in the Liverpool echo seems to think there is. There wasn't one in his Real Madrid contract, just a "first-option" clause which meant Real Madrid had to offer Owen at the same price as any bidder to Liverpool FC. First option clauses mean nothing though, a release clause is odd in this country (almost all big players in Spain have them) but wouldn't surprise me if it's there.

[Howaythetoon 0]

The "12m clause" is bull from what I gather but there is a one, i.e. if the two parties aren't happy after the first 12 months they can look at it and explore different options.

 

I don't know whether that's a good thing or not. If the club want to keep Owen, they have to win things or sign players of equal quality to play alongside him. If that's what it takes, I'm happy.

 

I'm also hearing there are CL bonuses as well as 20 goals bonuses. If Owen's goals help us get into the CL he gest an extra few quid, if he scores 20 goals or more he gets an extra few quid.

 

SFX driven clauses.

 

I wouldn't worry, it's quite natural on the continent between the likes of AC Milan, Real, Barca etc.

 

For those who think they can take him off our hands for 12m or what we paid for him, as if FS would agree to that.

 

Nah it's just little incentives on both parts. The 12 month thing will be an option of 2 further years to the deal or a year off the 4 year contract I'd imagine.

[Guest Sima]

There will be clauses that will be speculated on as to the come-down that he has been forced to make and I expect there to be some kind of release clause in there. What it is, we probably wont know until it attempts to get activated.

[jonnyhall 0]

The Times Interview:

 

Why I made the move

By Michael Owen

 

IT WAS at 1.30 in the early hours of yesterday that I finally decided that I was joining Newcastle United. That decision concluded a head-spinning 24 hours when, from one moment to the next, I thought I might be returning to Liverpool or staying at Real Madrid.

Although there had been a lot of agonising, and a lot of telephone calls, it was an easy decision in the end. People will point out that, only a week or so ago, I listed Newcastle as the last of my options but circumstances change very quickly, as I have discovered.

 

 

 

Given that I will be running out to play football in front of more than 50,000 of the country’s most passionate supporters next week, I am not about to cast around for sympathy.

 

It was a very long day on Monday but, as I went through the same circle of late-night calls with the three clubs involved in my dilemma, I felt that to return to Madrid would be the wrong decision. I want to play regularly and, if I am honest, part of me had missed the passion of the Premiership.

 

I was uncertain that a Liverpool bid would be accepted in time and I wanted to play for a club who really wanted me. My mind was made up, particularly when I thought back to the excellent meeting I had enjoyed with the Newcastle directors, management and Alan Shearer.

 

Alan was a great help throughout and instrumental in my decision. I had spoken to him many times over the past few weeks and he should work for the Newcastle tourist board when he finishes playing football. He even offered to give up his No 9 shirt but I have declined. No 10 will do for me.

 

I will regard playing alongside him in his last season as an honour. He has been, and still is, a great striker and there is no way that Newcastle should be where they are in the table with that calibre of player.

 

Alan said how his mind was in turmoil at the time he left Blackburn Rovers and suddenly a clear decision emerged. It was much the same for me after a day that had begun at dawn. I flew by private plane into Liverpool airport and went straight into a meeting with Rick Parry, the chief executive, and Rafael Benítez at a friend’s house in Liverpool.

 

Rafa and I sat together in the lounge while my adviser discussed my playing contract with Rick in the dining room. We were together for about2½ hours and I would say that it was a good meeting — the most positive I had heard out of Liverpool — and we spoke to Rafa and Rick again on the journey up to Newcastle.

 

We met the large Newcastle contingent at a grand country house, although I didn’t know there were cameras in the bushes. The meeting went on for almost three hours and what was said made a very strong impression on me.

 

On the journey home from those talks, my mind was still spinning. Would Liverpool’s offer be in time and accepted? What would happen to me if I stayed at Madrid? How much would I miss European football if I signed for Newcastle?

 

Then, just before I arrived home, David Moyes rang to see if there was a chance of getting me to Goodison Park and to wish me luck if not. I think he must have known that my Dad was briefly an Everton player and I used to follow them as a boy.

 

I arrived home at around 9.30pm and sat in the kitchen with my Mum, Dad and wife, Louise. With growing doubts about the Liverpool deal, my mind was made up. It will be strange going back to Anfield with another club but I won’t be the first player to do that and, as Jamie Carragher told me yesterday, he is already looking forward to giving me a kick.

 

All the Newcastle fans need to know is that I will be giving everything for their cause now. I have been watching the television and seen the queues at the club shop. From what I can tell, 99 per cent of fans are delighted that I have chosen Newcastle and are not wondering about how I got there. It will be like winning the World Cup to win a trophy.

 

I have got a lot of good memories of scoring goals at St James’ Park, including a hat-trick on my first visit with Liverpool. I was clapped off by the home fans that afternoon and I only hope that I can give them plenty more reasons to cheer me.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

Alan was a great help throughout and instrumental in my decision. I had spoken to him many times over the past few weeks and he should work for the Newcastle tourist board when he finishes playing football. He even offered to give up his No 9 shirt but I have declined. No 10 will do for me.

 

Jesus wept!!!

 

And well done again Big Al!

[Guest Sima]

The shining thing from that interview is that he is gutted not to have signed for Liverpool.

 

The Newcastle stuff is an afterthought.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Alan was a great help throughout and instrumental in my decision. I had spoken to him many times over the past few weeks and he should work for the Newcastle tourist board when he finishes playing football. He even offered to give up his No 9 shirt but I have declined. No 10 will do for me.

 

What a guy

 

For some reason I feel massively proud.

[jonnyhall 0]

after reading that i think that owen will be commited to this club and learn to love us like he loved liverpool

[nufc4ever 0]

That article deserves it's own thread, someone care to oblige?

[jonnyhall 0]

when I thought back to the excellent meeting I had enjoyed with the Newcastle directors, management and Alan Shearer.

 

my god we are are good negotiators

Edited August 30, 2005 by jonnyhall

[Guest Sima]

That article deserves it's own thread, someone care to oblige?

23888[/snapback]

 

Not really neccessary. A title change will do.

[nufc4ever 0]

That article deserves it's own thread, someone care to oblige?

23888[/snapback]

 

Not really neccessary. A title change will do.

23893[/snapback]

 

Fair comment.

[jonnyhall 0]

just repost it in a new thread

[Guest Sima]

no need.....

[Altoon 0]

Loving the way he even mentions snubbing everton again before he decided to join us..or is this now the done thing before you join newcastle?

[jonnyhall 0]

its fantastic. before any player signs anywhere, they must snub everton first

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Liverpool-friendly BBC still reporting there IS a 12 month get-out clause if he's not happy, Shepherd-friendly Jim White on Sky reporting there is definitley NOT a get-out.

Someone is wrong.

[Craig 6682]

Neither of them know, surely....

 

Both guessing!