If true, we have probably seen the last of him. TBH we were gambling on him & McBurnie keeping us up, so can see why we may have had to agree to it, as he was at a safe Championship club.
If you're in charge and a player you want says he will come, but wants a release contract what do you do?
Personally, if we could get our money back I'd be delighted. If we can make a profit on him that would be unbelievable. Yes, he had a run of 18 games with Rotherham where he got 13 goals. What else has he done? The two seasons prior to that he was with Forest Green in the conference struggling to get a game, more often than not on the bench, scoring just 7 goals in two years. He'd had a go in Norway too but couldn't get a game there either. Prior to that he had a full season with Yeovil in League 1 and managed 3 goals. He wasn't a kid, he was 22 and 23 years old. And before that a year in the Championship with them too when he got 4 goals. Prior to that he basically played park football. When he came back from Norway he had trials with a couple of League 2 clubs but neither offered him a deal so he dropped to the conference. As he couldn't get a game with Forest Green they loaned him out to Torquay where he scored a hattrick at Solihull. Ipswich decided to have a punt on him on the strength of this and Forest Green gladly accepted 10 grand. Mick took a look at him and didn't really like what he saw, but having only spent 10 grand it didn't really matter. We then spent three quarters of a million on him on the strength of an 18 game period at Rotherham, seemingly ignoring the rest of his career. Maybe those 18 games with Rotherham are the true reflection of the player he is, but I'm more inclined to look at the rest of his career and what I saw for myself down at Oakwell and If Gauthier can negotiate a profit on him it'll be, imho, a fantastic bit of business.
Has it actually been disclosed how much we paid for him. Also, was any fee involved paid up front or were their add-ons?
I thought it had, and Soccerbase says the same, who are usually quick to write undisclosed, but I can't be certain. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=70655
Kieffer did well at Rotherham - and by doing so Hecky brought him in to fit that role that was missing in the Barnsley team. He was cheap enough when we bought him and he’s proved himself at least good enough for League 1 and I would say give him another season in the Championship and he would be a very valuable player. In saying this - it’s up to Stendel who he keeps - if he thinks Kieffer doesn’t suit his style of play then he’ll move him on. But personally I want him to stay - he’d cause absolute havoc in League 1.
If he is not Championship standard , how come a number of championship clubs want to sign him ? It would be madness to let him go , we are in division one where he has a proven record , lets use our assets
If they trigger a release clause, by offering the fee & the player agrees personal terms, we'll have no choice though.
What is the point of giving a guy a 3 and half year contract if he has a release clause? Does it work both ways? If so the contract is wirthless in its timeframe.
I would really like him to stay as his presence alone will cause issues for defenders but he did miss some crucial chances for us after signing and if the release clause he has brings a good profit then it might not be end of the world but ideally I would prefer him to stay as I would look to build the side around him and Bradshaw.