https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-heckingbottom-dennis-wise-14256465 When Denis Wise reckons you've not much integrity you are in trouble
Some pretty savage comments there and deservedly so. Paul 'one of our own' Heckingbottom/his agent has stitched us up (in my opinion). I'm willing to bet [though I dont know the facts so this should not be seen as an allegation] that his old contract didn't contain a release clause. Had Cryne still been on the scene, being the sort of man he was, he'd have probably let Quisling, sorry Heckingbottom, speak with Leeds like he did Johnson with Bristol. Quisling, sorry Heckingbottom, thinks - ahhh - these new guys might refuse permission. Agent "If he signs the new deal there's a £500k release clause - will you pay that? Nah, he's not worried about leaving a few days later. Right we'll get it done." Few chats over the weekend with key staff and bye bye "my club" hello wonga. As I said in my other post I get why financially he would want to do it and don't begrudge any man the chance to earn financial security for his family. If this had been done "right", Leeds ask permission, we agree [anyone saying we did agree, not strictly true - we were powerless once the release fee was met] and Heckingbottom goes alone like Johnson; then maybe a bit of sour grapes but that's life. The way this FEELS like such a stitch up job though. If a club had sacked a manager 4 days after signing a new deal they would be pilloried by the media and the LMA so Quisling, sorry Heckingbottom, can have no complaints if his reputation is taking a hit now - it thoroughly deserves to in my opinion. Someone else said lower than Sammy the Snake in a post and regrettably I think I have to agree given the apparently contrived nature of the departure, the plundering of the backroom staff, our league position and the weekends local derby. Put the shoe on the other foot and the club and directors would have been slated by all and sundry.
I’d guess the £500k would have been more than any compo though, so in my eyes, we’re probably slightly better off and it means it’s a quick transfer so to speak, so everyone can move on. How much did we get for LJ? Bearing in mind we were flying at the time? With no clause, if Leeds asked permission to talk and Hecky wanted to, regardless of taking job or not, he would have been put on gardening leave and the fans would have backed the club. This is not to say the agent didn’t have a ‘heads up’ about the potential Leeds sacking though and yes, that could have triggered the new contract to be finally signed. We’re lead to believe the contract was agreed in full a few months ago. Also, Maybe it wasn’t signed until a suitable club were starting to look on purpose - he maybe didn’t want Forest or Sunderland to trigger it. We’ll never know, and it doesn’t matter. Best of luck to him.
Agree with Dub-Tyke. That release fee probably netted us more money than his old contract. But it wasn't exactly news that other clubs coveted Hecky, so why wasn't the release clause bigger? Not rocket science.
Don't think we actually gave him a new contract but it was spoken about when he was linked with Sheffield Wednesday or someone. Pretty shabby thing to do though.
"Best of luck to him" I Don't get that at all. I can understand some of the reasons he has done it. The manner of it is all very poor though. But regardless of any reasons I an not wish him luck. Do you want him to succeed at Leeds? I know I don't, I can't stand Leeds and as always I hope they continue to struggle.
You’re probably right I’ve been to sleep since then. As you say this lack of loyalty malarkey cuts both ways.