This weeks Chronicle football

O'Grady set to sign next week. Chris O'Grady is set to be unveiled as Barnsley's first summer signing after the reds verbally agree a £300,000 deal with Sheffield Wednesday. O'Grady is expected back off of holiday on Tuesday but talks have already begun between reds officials and O'Grady's agent.

It is thought that John Stead is keen on a move to Barnsley, but Dave Flitcroft is yet to approach the former Bristol City striker, despite wanting another striker.

The club have tried to contact the agent of Michael Higdon, however its been a fortnight since an initial e-mail was sent, and there's been no reply.

Flicker is also keen on bringing in a centre half, and it is reported that we are chasing Southend's Rotherham born defender Ryan Cresswell, after the 25 year old was named in the league 2 team of the year.

Despite having offers from elsewhere, Dave Flitcroft believes Martin Cranie will sign for the reds, despite demanding a wage rise. The chronicle understands that Martin has asked for a substantial wage rise, yet Flicker believes that a deal can be done, and it would be a major master stroke by the club to keep Martin on board.

Tomasz Cywka is yet to return from a break in Poland, but has been offered a 1 year extension to his contract. Dennis Knight has agreed a year's deal and Lukas Lidakevicius has been offered a month to month contract.

Bobby Hassell must tak a 70% pay cut to stay with the reds this summer. Hassell says he's had little contact with the club in the summer, but has to make a decision on his future by the 23rd June. Hassell has already expressed his desire to spend a 10th season at the club and have a testimonial match, but admits he may have to leave in order to secure regular first team football.

Luke Steele is looking increasingly likely to leave, with Huddersfield, Hull and Wolves all taking a interest.

Stephen Dawson says that the matches against Yeovil will be the first ones he looks for when the fixtures are announced on Wednesday. He says that the whole of Dublin will be waiting to see when the two teams play each other, and he has warned younger brother Kevin that he wont go easy on him.

The club have sold 2000 season tickets so far, and are expecting to surpass the 6,700 they sold last season.

Tom Kennedy is ready to start working towards the new season again after going on holiday to Las Vegas with fellow reds, David Perkins and Chris Dagnall.

Andy Ritchie talks about being upset that he was sacked by the reds, but loved the club so much that he rejected the offer to manage Sheffield Wednesday shortly after because he knew it wouldn't be a popular decision with reds fans.

Birthday's and Obituaries to follow

 

Thanks for that.

Yay - O'Grady, new centre half, possibly Crainie.

Hmmm - Ryan Cresswell

Boo - Luke Steele, Hassell, especially the PR side of things.

 

A Premiership club and 2 Championship clubs taking an interest in Steele?

 

Has it now become obligatory

To do contract negotiations via Twitter, the local media & the BBS?

 

Dunno

But if it were down to me there'd be a news blackout til stuff's done & dusted.

You can't stop folk talking like, but stuff about Steele and Hassell especially ain't the way to do business imho.

 

Exactly.

All paper talk.

Honestly expect at least one, possibly both to be here next year.

 

Re: Has it now become obligatory

Also
a guy has refused to buy a season ticket due to the club not allowing him to change the seat that used to be occupied by his grandson ( who no longer wants the seat) to his granddaughter - seems weird to me but remember there are two sides to every story

 

I agree

No party has come out of the present situation untainted.

 

Me too.

 

Luke Steele to Huddersfield? Please God no, not to those horrible b@stards.

 

Re: Dunno

Sounds like you'd need to keep Bobby off that blower, telling all his mates about his % pay cut etc.

 

Re: Dunno

Radio Hassell innit. Apparently.

 

Re: Dunno

Might tweet him see if he'll tell me how much win bonus he gets.

 

Re: Dunno

Are you in Murray's circle of power though ?

#tellmetellme

 

Re: Has it now become obligatory

I think we forget sometimes that the players are still young lads and they do let their feelings on stuff slip out. Once it oozes into the social networks it's off. They're not daft either when it comes to manipulating lemmings like us to buoy up their stock and influence the Oakwell decision makers via public opinion. The club likewise will be gauging the customer's responses. And if people feel strongly enough, they can send a clear message the the club by abstaining from season ticket purchase until these contracts are resolved sensibly and fairly. I know my enthusiasm has definitely cooled. Maybe they don't need supporters like me.

I'm hoping common sense will prevail. That the club will say these figures were just hard ball starting points for negotiations, even if it's not strictly true.

 

Wolves are league 1 now. But I see your point.

 

I can't see it being Huddersfield. They've got one of the most highly rated young keepers in the country. They won't sign Steele & demote Smithies.

Wolves - fair enough, one step back potentially two forward but you never know.

Hull - being linked with Schwarzer and the like. He'd be an option but doubt he's top of their list.

 

I can't understand why Wolves are after him either to be honest. The Wolves fan I was talking to at work last week, reckons they're only offloading Hennessey because of his wages, which leaves them with De Vries, Ikeme and a highly rated young Irish keeper called McCarey, who's expected to sign a new contract soon.

So I can't see why they'd need Steele too.

 

They probably don't, his agent wants Wolves to want him.

He only has to look at Kieron Westwood. One of the most highly rated keepers in this league at Coventry. Played 9 games for Sunderland in two seasons.

Hemsworth doesn't come across great but he's got a point - if he was rated as highly by other clubs as we rate him he wouldn't still be looking for a contract.

 

The players

Have done themselves no credit either by making selected aspects of contract negotiations known through friends, the media & Twitter. In my opinion, ALL negotiations should be done behind closed doors, allowing compromise to be reached and both parties to maintain dignity and face. If compromise cannot be achieved, then both parties can move on without either having their reputation tarnished.