from todays Star: Ritchie wait for new deal BARNSLEY BARNSLEY are in no rush to renew manager Andy Ritchie's contract. His current deal, along with that of assistant Rick Holden, expires next summer. Oakwell chairman Gordon Shepherd said: "Andy has a contract here until next July as has Rick. We're little more than half way through a two-year contract. "In my businesses in the past, if I've given someone a contract over a period of time - if it was a rolling one or a fixed term one - I've tended to get nearer towards the end of that before anything is done about it. "I just don't understand this need for sorting things early." Having led the South Yorkshire side to promotion last season, Ritchie's stock is certainly rising and, barring unforeseen circumstances, Shepherd is certain to open talks later this year. The former Manchester United, Oldham and Leeds striker was honoured by the Football Writers Association on Sunday for his efforts at Oakwell and, should his success story continue, Barnsley will be keen to bring the matter to a conclusion sooner rather than later.
Losing Ritchie is the biggest risk we are running The guy can do no more - he is and has been totally fantastci and should be rewarded now with a long term contract.
RE: "I just don't understand this need for sorting things early." Love that quote and it says so much.
RE: "I just don't understand this need for sorting things early." I'll tell you Gordon, sort things early and if players or managers leave we got money, don't sort things early and these players/coaches leave for **** all: austin, hassell, healy, williams, heckingbottom, hayes, howard, mcparland, devaney, richards, nardiello, kay, tonge, wroe, letheren, ritchie, holden and probably some more young lads. FFS
RE: well most importantly we will have a nice, small wage bill We will when no f-ucker's on the payroll.
RE: well most importantly we will have a nice, small wage bill yeh but 'what's the point in having an academy if your not going to play the young lads' plus we'll have a good base with colgan, reid, mcindoe, togwell and wright
The Construction Industry and the Football Club "Industry" are worlds apart and therin lies our problem. A Football Club cannot be run like a Building firm.
Having given this some thought what do contracts actually count for in football these days anyway? unlikely that an ambitious manager would refuse an offer from a bigger club, contract or no contract, and Ritchie's no different. maybe you get a larger nominal fee, but far more important in keeping your manager in situ is giving him the scope to do his job and better himself in doing so. Im assuming here that GS and AR have a healthy and regular dialogue and that AR is comfortable with the contract situation. if AR was to say in public that the uncertainty is unsettling, then inertia from GS would be unforgiveable.
In the absence of any comment from Ritchie I just find GS's stance a tad 'laid back' for my liking.</p> No further comment M'lud.</p>
RE: "I just don't understand this need for sorting things early." Sounds a bit like our transfer policy
