Allardyce fumes at buy out clauses

[Jimbo 175]

Sam Allardyce has declared war on controversial buy-out clauses, which he admits could see Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins leave St James’ Park this summer for knockdown fees.

 

The strikers both had buy-outs included in their contracts when they signed for the Magpies, which means Owen could leave for as little as £9 million and Nigeria international Martins for £13m.

 

Although Allardyce says Arsenal have not yet made a formal bid for Martins, he is furious that the buy-out clause means the player can leave.

 

The same goes for Owen, who has given plenty of indications in the last few months that he wants away from Tyneside, despite the fact no major club has tabled a concrete bid for him.

 

Allardyce hopes both strikers decide to stay, but he is adamant it is a system which is weighed far too heavily in favour of the player.

 

“I would like to eradicate buy-out clauses if possible,” he said. “I think one of the key things in my experience is that the quicker we move in the transfer market this summer the cheaper it is. It will become more expensive as the summer moves on.

 

“The whole thing is a very flawed system where panic sets in. You start the season and within two or three games in August you can panic buy.

 

“That is the worst sort of business and then you end up with clauses in contracts like the ones we have now got at this club. It is the way of the world and will probably never stop.

 

“I might have to do the same at some stage and you have to live with it, but it makes things a lot more difficult.

 

“From our point of view we have got long contracts for both players, but we haven’t really got long contracts with them because if those clauses are activated there is nothing we can do about it. While I am disappointed about that I can live with it. I understand it and we have to get on with it. How do I plan for it? I would love to plan for Michael Owen and Oba Martins to definitely be here at the start of the season but between now and August I may lose those players, which would be a massive blow for me and this football club.”

 

Allardyce believes Newcastle have secured three high class signings this summer – all without buy-out clauses – with a fourth potentially on the way in Cameroon international Geremi, but he says the big spending has only just begun.

 

“It has been terrific business for the club getting Mark Viduka, Joey Barton and David Rozehnal, while having sold only Scott Parker. The next phase needs to start now and I think we need at least four more players in the squad, particularly in defence.

 

“Hopefully the players will stay fit and strong and whatever happens last year is now ancient history. It is a new start for me and for the players and we now need to start forging great relationships to help this club get to where it wants.”

 

Whereas takeovers at other Premiership clubs have taken months on end, it appears Mike Ashley’s has been a relatively bloodless coup and Allardyce is grateful he can now carry on full steam ahead with the job in hand of bringing in silverware.

 

He said: “The speed of the takeover has been very impressive. It could have become a distraction like has been the case at Manchester City and Liverpool, but the business has been done very quickly.

 

“These things can drag on and cause huge speculation but our transition has been extremely smooth. Forging a relationship with the new deputy chairman Chris Mort is now very high on my agenda.

 

“I have not had much contract with Mike Ashley. He prefers to run his businesses from afar. He has put people into place to run the club for him but I would like to have the opportunity at some stage to exchange a few ideas, which I hope will happen soon.”

 

Allardyce’s comments came as the Magpies announced a multi-million-pound four-year drinks sponsorship deal with Carling.

[Geordie Boyo 24]

All very positive and very honest. I like this guy.

[tinofbeans 91]

me too, however if we lose both we could be in trouble....

[East Stander 0]

me too, however if we lose both we could be in trouble....

 

Aye, a fitting legacy typifying the reign of the fat one.

[ewerk 30616]

It feels very strange to have a manager talking common sense, the stuff about prices going up towards the end of the transfer window and panic buying is exactly what Freddy shouldn't have allowed to happen.

[Chaser 1207]

I like it - planning in action

[Barney 0]

"Forging a relationship with the new deputy chairman Chris Mort is now very high on my agenda."

 

Allardyce’s comments came as the Magpies announced a multi-million-pound four-year drinks sponsorship deal with Carling.

[snakehips 0]

I was under the impression that Owen's buy-out clause for £9m applied if he went in January; if he went now, it would be more e.g. 11 or 12 m. I'm sure I read that, but I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

 

Can anyone clarify - for certain - what the amounts are, and when they apply ???

[ewerk 30616]

I was under the impression that Owen's buy-out clause for £9m applied if he went in January; if he went now, it would be more e.g. 11 or 12 m. I'm sure I read that, but I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

 

Can anyone clarify - for certain - what the amounts are, and when they apply ???

 

No one has came out and given exact figures but my understanding is that he can leave this summer for £9m, I'm not sure whether the release clause is still effective in January but the way people are talking it seems that it is.

[snakehips 0]

I was under the impression that Owen's buy-out clause for £9m applied if he went in January; if he went now, it would be more e.g. 11 or 12 m. I'm sure I read that, but I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

 

Can anyone clarify - for certain - what the amounts are, and when they apply ???

 

No one has came out and given exact figures but my understanding is that he can leave this summer for £9m, I'm not sure whether the release clause is still effective in January but the way people are talking it seems that it is.

 

One of the original pieces I read stated that the release clause decreased in stages and it would be January when it would be 'as little' as £9m. All of a sudden, the media have latched on to this £9m figure and said it applied immediately. As you say, no one has come out and given the full facts (they probably never will) so I suppose it's all conjecture.

[sammynb 3355]

I was under the impression that Owen's buy-out clause for £9m applied if he went in January; if he went now, it would be more e.g. 11 or 12 m. I'm sure I read that, but I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

 

Can anyone clarify - for certain - what the amounts are, and when they apply ???

 

No one has came out and given exact figures but my understanding is that he can leave this summer for £9m, I'm not sure whether the release clause is still effective in January but the way people are talking it seems that it is.

Allegedly less!

[Guest alex]

Shepherd's fuck-ups coming home to roost. Again.

[Bombadil 0]

I was under the impression that Owen's buy-out clause for £9m applied if he went in January; if he went now, it would be more e.g. 11 or 12 m. I'm sure I read that, but I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

 

Can anyone clarify - for certain - what the amounts are, and when they apply ???

 

No one has came out and given exact figures but my understanding is that he can leave this summer for £9m, I'm not sure whether the release clause is still effective in January but the way people are talking it seems that it is.

 

One of the original pieces I read stated that the release clause decreased in stages and it would be January when it would be 'as little' as £9m. All of a sudden, the media have latched on to this £9m figure and said it applied immediately. As you say, no one has come out and given the full facts (they probably never will) so I suppose it's all conjecture.

 

I remember reading the same thing. £12m now, £9m in January.

[Ally 0]

I used to think Allardyce was an absolute gobshite, but i'm really liking him at the minute. He's saying/doing all the things we'd been screaming at Souness and Roeder to do for years. Its not rocket science that you pay more for players in the last week of August, yet those two clowns didn't seem to get their heads round that.

[snakehips 0]

I was under the impression that Owen's buy-out clause for £9m applied if he went in January; if he went now, it would be more e.g. 11 or 12 m. I'm sure I read that, but I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

 

Can anyone clarify - for certain - what the amounts are, and when they apply ???

 

No one has came out and given exact figures but my understanding is that he can leave this summer for £9m, I'm not sure whether the release clause is still effective in January but the way people are talking it seems that it is.

 

One of the original pieces I read stated that the release clause decreased in stages and it would be January when it would be 'as little' as £9m. All of a sudden, the media have latched on to this £9m figure and said it applied immediately. As you say, no one has come out and given the full facts (they probably never will) so I suppose it's all conjecture.

 

I remember reading the same thing. £12m now, £9m in January.

 

Great stuff I was 'certain' I had read it, but it seems to have disappeared completely now. We obviously read the quality, informative papers: Socialist Worker

[snakehips 0]

I used to think Allardyce was an absolute gobshite, but i'm really liking him at the minute. He's saying/doing all the things we'd been screaming at Souness and Roeder to do for years. Its not rocket science that you pay more for players in the last week of August, yet those two clowns didn't seem to get their heads round that.

 

We seem to have gone from a gobshite, to a mouse, to a football manager!!

[sammynb 3355]

I was under the impression that Owen's buy-out clause for £9m applied if he went in January; if he went now, it would be more e.g. 11 or 12 m. I'm sure I read that, but I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

 

Can anyone clarify - for certain - what the amounts are, and when they apply ???

 

No one has came out and given exact figures but my understanding is that he can leave this summer for £9m, I'm not sure whether the release clause is still effective in January but the way people are talking it seems that it is.

 

One of the original pieces I read stated that the release clause decreased in stages and it would be January when it would be 'as little' as £9m. All of a sudden, the media have latched on to this £9m figure and said it applied immediately. As you say, no one has come out and given the full facts (they probably never will) so I suppose it's all conjecture.

 

I remember reading the same thing. £12m now, £9m in January.

No £9m now, less in January.

[luckyluke 2]

I used to think Allardyce was an absolute gobshite, but i'm really liking him at the minute. He's saying/doing all the things we'd been screaming at Souness and Roeder to do for years. Its not rocket science that you pay more for players in the last week of August, yet those two clowns didn't seem to get their heads round that.

 

I think when a manager of another club justly complains about something they're dismissed as moaning gobshite but when they're your gaffer it's easier to see where they're coming from.

 

That said we all knew Fatty and Roeder were talking out of their arses when they complained about the transfer window last summer.

 

By the way, on reading the title of this thread does anybody else picture Sam turning a dark shade of purple and steam coming out of his ears in rage?