I see that Leicester City did indeed do the dirty on Sheffield Wednesday over George Hirst. They've signed him for a nominal fee from Leuven (owned by the same company, King Power). Hirst left Wednesday for Leuven on a free, had he gone directly to Leicester City, Weds would have been due a significant fee in compensation for his development. Mixed thoughts about this one, happy that Wednesday have been dumped on, but concerned that this will become standard practice when 'big' English clubs have European feeder clubs.
Was predicted last August https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/12/george-hirst-sheffield-wednesday-leuven-leicester
Similar to what happened with Fryers isn't it? United wouldn't sell to Spurs so went via a Belgian team I believe. Fergie was fuming
Delighted. I've no sympathy for Wednesday what so ever. They've cheated FFP for the last 3 years and they're trying to get around it again this season. I get the feeling that if they dont get promoted this season (never gonna happen anyway) then they'll end up relegated the following season with a **** tonne of debt. **** em.
It’s shocking. I don’t care if it’s Wednesday or not they deserve their money, even if it to pay Sammy Snake’s wages
Not sure mate. What's particularly troubling (to me) in this case is the fact that Leuven and Leicester are clearly linked. I wasn't aware that Spurs have a link with Standard Liege.
It’s wrong, and I'm not a fan of Leicester. They bought their way into the Premier League just like lots of other teams. However, Wednesday are also trying to fiddle the FFP system so I don't have that much sympathy. Hirst was their player - they didn’t have to let him go. They could have loaned him out to get experience, but they offered him rare opportunitie. Between Wednesday and Hirst’s advisers a promising young career has been halted in its tracks.
I don't believe spurs and Standard do have a link, which makes it worrying that spurs clearly said to Standard you could make a bit of money if you do this for us. But this will happen everywhere.
WAWAW Ops sorry we can't use that anymore if it's associated with those inberciles. Fxxk em Hope the mighty reds aren't up to no good behind the scenes and we keep on the high moral ground. One day everything will come to them who deserve it and rest will vanishto hell.
It's not quite like that (as I understand it). Hirst knew Leicester were interested in him so wouldn't sign a new contract with Wednesday. To avoid paying out a hefty compensation fee Leicester advised Hirst to sign for Leuven for a season where he played 22 times (15 starts) in the Belgian second division, scoring 3 times.
Despite rarely playing in the 2 and half years he was with us (just 13 starts) we offered a new contract to Hedges this summer. I don't think we wanted him, I believe we only offered that to receive compensation if he signed for another club. As it happens, he signed for a Scottish club so I don't believe we got anything. But I think we restricted his options by offering the contract - there may have been English clubs wanting to sign him that were put off by the uncertainty of a fee decided by a tribunal. It's not the same as the Hirst situation, but I think it's another example of how the rules put in place are limiting the careers of players, are being exploited by clubs that intend to sign players and those happy to let players go, and aren't really fit for purpose.
He played a full season though. And any pjayer has the right to leave on a free. Cant see how you can stop that really.
True he played a full season, knowing he'd go to Leicester the following one. I imagine we'll see this happening more frequently.
I was involved in a Yorkshire Cup game against the then Midland League side Denaby Main at their home ground Tickhill Square. After the match, we were invited into the Presidents lounge for a drink. On the wall, was a framed contract dated 1953, recording the sale of Higham born Keith Burkenshaw from Denaby to the mighty Liverpool. From memory, the contract stated that if Keith played a certain number of first team games, Denaby would recieve further remuneration. He spent four years at Anfield and played in the League for their first team just once. He was then sold to Workington Town and later went on to play for Scunny. Burkinshaw is best known as being Tottenham Hotspur's most successful boss, winning three major trophies over an eight year period in charge. One of Denabys other notable players who was just getting his career underway, was the late great dedicated Reds servant Norman Rimmington of course.
