Player Contracts

[TheRevAshton]

Now that the January window is closed, the focus of the board at Rovers should be straight on to sorting player contracts.

Below are some of those expiring in the near future;

2025
Weimann
Batth
Dolan
Ribeiro
Forshaw

2026
Travis
Brittain
Tronstad
Hedges (after year option is triggered)
Hyam (after year option is triggered)

We need to get the majority of these players signed up on new terms... and at the earliest convenience.

Anyone have much faith in Waggott or Rudy in this department? Can't say I do...

 

Edited February 4 by TheRevAshton

[MarkBRFC]

Hyam has an option so that will kick the can down the road for another year, also Hedges.

[joey_big_nose]

26 minutes ago, TheRevAshton said:

Now that the January window is closed, the focus of the board at Rovers should be straight on to sorting player contracts.

Below are some of those expiring in the near future;

2025
Weimann
Batth
Dolan

2026
Travis
Brittain
Tronstad
Hedges (after year option is triggered)
Hyam (after year option is triggered)

We need to get, in my opinion, every single one of these players signed up on new terms... and at the earliest convenience.

Anyone have much faith in Waggott or Rudy in this department? Can't say I do...

 

Dolans gone, no way we keep him. Hes decided to prioritise getting a sign on bonus somewhere. As much as he is maligned on here I am sure he will get a big pay day at a Championship club.

Everyone else we have a chance of signing, but we have this culture now of players running down their contracts so I wonder if Hyam, Travis, Brittian will all target doing the same. If we dont get them signed by the summer I am sure they will all be off for nothing.

[MarkBRFC]

Unless we somehow go up this season, then i expect Dolan, Brittain, Hyam, Travis & Tronstad to all leave for nothing in the next 18 months.

[roversfan99]

Its a massive issue, due to our terrible owners weve had to build a squad on bad foundations full of short term deals.

Travis, Tronstad and Brittain have to be the priorities. Hyam also needs a year or two extra.

Weimann and Batth should be evaluated in the summer. They are of an age where there wont be that much interest in them so see what physical state they are in then.

Hedges I would be happy to move on. Dolan I wouldnt lose any sleep over leaving either although his age makes it a bit more of an issue. He clearly has no interest in signing anyway.

Ribeiro also comes into this category, if he impresses then closer to the summer an extended deal could sort that position with him and Pickering for next season.

[JHRover]

I think we have entered a new era from that we had pre-2023. Back then when we lost people like Lenihan, Nyambe, Rothwell due to contract expiry I think it was probably at least in part due to inept management and poor organisation, trying to force those players into accepting lesser terms and leaving things until the last minute. 

Then Broughton came in and to be fair to him he went about renewing those contracts that needed sorting and we also signed a few on reasonable term deals - Hyam, Szmodics, Brittain.

Since the 2023 change however I think we are firmly into new territory. Not only are we unable to renew terms but I genuinely think there is an instruction from the owners down to not offer medium to long term deals and to drastically cut the wage bill. 

We can see indications of this in our recent transfer activity. With the exception of a few very low cost people like Kargbo (who will have been on relative peanuts in Italy) there are no proper contracts being handed out. 

So rather than this being down to typical Venky/Waggott delay/poor organisation I think they are now following a clear plan - let the contracts run down, get the wages off the books, don't have anyone tied down beyond a maximum of 1-2 years, no long term 3,4,5 year deals, no wage increases. It is deliberate and planned. 

So every summer we are going to at best be in the loan market and adding people on 12 month contracts.

The 'core' of the squad that has excelled this season will be out of here. 

[Upside Down]

2 hours ago, JHRover said:

I think we have entered a new era from that we had pre-2023. Back then when we lost people like Lenihan, Nyambe, Rothwell due to contract expiry I think it was probably at least in part due to inept management and poor organisation, trying to force those players into accepting lesser terms and leaving things until the last minute. 

Then Broughton came in and to be fair to him he went about renewing those contracts that needed sorting and we also signed a few on reasonable term deals - Hyam, Szmodics, Brittain.

Since the 2023 change however I think we are firmly into new territory. Not only are we unable to renew terms but I genuinely think there is an instruction from the owners down to not offer medium to long term deals and to drastically cut the wage bill. 

We can see indications of this in our recent transfer activity. With the exception of a few very low cost people like Kargbo (who will have been on relative peanuts in Italy) there are no proper contracts being handed out. 

So rather than this being down to typical Venky/Waggott delay/poor organisation I think they are now following a clear plan - let the contracts run down, get the wages off the books, don't have anyone tied down beyond a maximum of 1-2 years, no long term 3,4,5 year deals, no wage increases. It is deliberate and planned. 

So every summer we are going to at best be in the loan market and adding people on 12 month contracts.

The 'core' of the squad that has excelled this season will be out of here. 

We'll be in the national league before we know it.

Get behind the managed decline FFS!

[superniko]

5 hours ago, TheRevAshton said:

Now that the January window is closed, the focus of the board at Rovers should be straight on to sorting player contracts.

Below are some of those expiring in the near future;

2025
Weimann
Batth
Dolan
Ribeiro
Forshaw

2026
Travis
Brittain
Tronstad
Hedges (after year option is triggered)
Hyam (after year option is triggered)

We need to get the majority of these players signed up on new terms... and at the earliest convenience.

Anyone have much faith in Waggott or Rudy in this department? Can't say I do...

 

Some pretty crucial ones in 2026 there.

Travis, Brittain, Tronstad should certainly all be getting one put in front of them.

Also these last two windows were our opportunity to either get Dolan signed or shipped - he’s out of contract in a few months and it’s odds on he leaves for a free

[davulsukur]

5 hours ago, TheRevAshton said:

Now that the January window is closed, the focus of the board at Rovers should be straight on to sorting player contracts.

Below are some of those expiring in the near future;

2025
Weimann
Batth
Dolan
Ribeiro
Forshaw

2026
Travis
Brittain
Tronstad
Hedges (after year option is triggered)
Hyam (after year option is triggered)

We need to get the majority of these players signed up on new terms... and at the earliest convenience.

Anyone have much faith in Waggott or Rudy in this department? Can't say I do...

 

Travis, Brittain, Hyam & Tronstad are urgent renewals as far as I am concerned.

If any of them walk for free in 18months, Waggott should be sacked on the spot. He's been here before, he can't let lightening strike twice on his watch.

[DeeCee]

As nobody came in for Dolan (as far as I know), perhaps he'll reassess his future and sign the contract he's been offered? (or not, I'm not fussed either way tbh).