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Holmes fee too much for Swindon (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Holmes fee too much for Swindon
6:00am Thursday 31st May 2012 in npower League Two Table & Results By Sam Morshead
Holmes fee too much for Swindon
SWINDON Town were interested in bringing Lee Holmes to the County Ground before the winger agreed to join Preston, but the Robins were unwilling to match the offer tabled by their League One rivals.
Holmes, who scored once in 11 appearances during his loan spell in Wiltshire last season, will officially become a North End player on July 1 following his release from Southampton this month.
The Advertiser has learnt that the salary Holmes will be commanding at Deepdale would have made him the highest earner in the Town squad, while he is also believed to be collecting a six-figure signing-on fee when he links up with Graham Westley’s free-spending side.
Swindon interim chairman Jeremy Wray confirmed he would have liked to have seen Holmes become a permanent fixture in the Robins squad, but said there are plenty of other irons in the fire as Town look to reinforce their playing staff over the summer.
He told the Advertiser: “We were keen to have him but Preston were prepared to offer him a package that we would not.
“We wish him well for the future and we will continue to look at other targets.”
Comments(45)
Chish and Fips
says...
6:19am Thu 31 May 12
London Red
says...
6:21am Thu 31 May 12
.
Glad our Board / PdC said no if anywhere near that wage
tractorski-red
says...
6:40am Thu 31 May 12
Rhs Boydy
says...
6:59am Thu 31 May 12
BorisIsTheSpider
says...
7:02am Thu 31 May 12
Rhs Boydy wrote:Totally agree. And agree with tractorski, having seen him when he played for us previously I was a bit disapointed with him this time around. Still a good player at this level mind. But if last season told us anything, it's that PDC probably has even better players lined up.
It's stories like this that really drive home how well footballers are paid. A third division player getting given a 100k+ signing on fee is absurd.
robstfc
says...
7:11am Thu 31 May 12
Just makes me laugh when at the last game he's walking around our pitch with his young child in a town top.... What a joke. Just shows its just all amount money to most of them.... No real connection with the fans..... They earn in a month what most town fans earn in probably 9 to 12 months....
His loss................
......!
EastleazeRed
says...
7:11am Thu 31 May 12
sputnik
says...
7:12am Thu 31 May 12
Sharkyharper
says...
7:15am Thu 31 May 12
With PDC signing a new contract, it's fair to say we will have a decent squad come the end of August as he will not accept anything less, so I think we can all relax and just let PDC and Wray go about there business.... All us fans need to do is go out and buy a season ticket as our club is going to have another roller coaster ride in 2012/2013.
COYR
London Red
says...
7:37am Thu 31 May 12
.
However - I did say I would start with Holmes due to consistency
.
Probably as Rooney is younger and less experienced he blows more hot and cold than Holmes constant warm
.
Saying that when Rooney blew hot he was unplayable and delivered more than Holmes ever did - DR prime example!
.
So I guess it is PdC and his teams job to make sure we get more of that hot
.
We saw Ritchie deliver more last year than the one before so hopefully Rooney will follow that trend
Wilesy
says...
7:39am Thu 31 May 12
Still a bit disappointed he didn't come here, but as Jessie J would say "it's all about the money, money, money"
35yrRED
says...
7:41am Thu 31 May 12
Good luck for the future Lee, thanks for your efforts whilst you were here.
toshman
says...
7:49am Thu 31 May 12
P*ssed Off
says...
8:00am Thu 31 May 12
smirg kcab
says...
8:06am Thu 31 May 12
Onwards and up up and away
LionelHutz
says...
8:08am Thu 31 May 12
I agree with LR - I think Rooney is a great player, especially in our system of inverted wingers with overlapping full backs. I'd be very happy with Ritchie and Rooney as our first choice wingers next season, although clearly we don't have much strength in depth in these areas.
McEvely would be a far more important signing than Holmes, in my opinion.
smirg kcab
says...
8:32am Thu 31 May 12
LionelHutz wrote:Many people slated mcevely after wembley, and I told you all this player is superb and will be a great signing. Cant understand why Barnsley let him go. A must signing and will be dissapointed if we lost him, as you said a priority over Holmes any day.
Can you imagine a situation where Holmes waltzes in and is suddenly earning more than Matt Ritchie (who is twice the player Holmes is)? Well done Jeremy for sticking to your guns.
I agree with LR - I think Rooney is a great player, especially in our system of inverted wingers with overlapping full backs. I'd be very happy with Ritchie and Rooney as our first choice wingers next season, although clearly we don't have much strength in depth in these areas.
McEvely would be a far more important signing than Holmes, in my opinion.
Onwards and up up and away
Is that you Lovesey
says...
8:43am Thu 31 May 12
Wonder Strike
says...
8:45am Thu 31 May 12
stanharlands6shirt
says...
8:48am Thu 31 May 12
That slow, almost Mathewesque way he stands and runs over the ball, shoulders hunched, before jinxing one way or the other past defenders was a joy to watch.
That said, I agree with most of the above that there has to be wage sensibility and structure, so well done to all concerned with negotiations for not letting Swindon go down the "throw money at it" route.
Thanks for the memories Lee and I for one enjoyed watching you enjoy our success with your child in your arms on the pitch at the end of the season.
I'm sure there will always be a warm welcome and respect for you when you return to Swindon.
Good luck for your future.
the don69
says...
8:54am Thu 31 May 12
London Red wrote:He's never really full-filled his potential,anywhere he's gone,very inconsistent,never hacked it at the saints,can't see him getting any better,just not worth the money Preston are paying,move on Paolo!!!!!
So if the rumours over our wages are true that means he is on over £6k a week at Preston!
.
Glad our Board / PdC said no if anywhere near that wage
Moonraker18018
says...
9:04am Thu 31 May 12
Custodian
says...
9:09am Thu 31 May 12
London Red
says...
9:15am Thu 31 May 12
.
Maybe we could do a double deal for him and Pack?
.
I personally don't think throwing money around is necessarily a sign of ambition
.
It can simply be a receipe for a disaster - if PNE fail to go up they will head straight for Administration!
.
Richard Wright and Lee Holmes - yes good signings the others - well nothing stands out to me!
.
Ambition to me is signing 2 or 3 key players who will make a difference
.
If we only signed 1 decent striker this summer- who was real quality - that would show me we are ambitious as that is all we are short really
Rebel_phish
says...
9:22am Thu 31 May 12
I thought Lee was a a really good player, his play down the wings were at times quite deft. His beating of the last defender against Vale to put in the cross for, I think Bensons goal, was excellent. But too many times he seemed to shy out of making a tackle, not put all the effort in. Certainly didn't commit to 50/50 challenges, almost as if he was afraid of getting hurt.
I know a footballer's career is relatively short and they need to maximise their income, but sometimes its not always about the money. All clubs, at what ever level are just a revolving door for players to ply their trade. Its almost as if the players are just a bunch of Mercenaries, giving their services to the highest bidder.
Not all, I know. John Trollope, Paul Bodin, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, just to name a few.
The best most can hope for is that there is a good relationship with the club, and that demands are not higher than expectations, and whilst he is with a club, the player gets the best out of the club and vice versa.
Our squad personnel is very different now than it was 14 months ago, and who's to say what it will look like in 12/24 months time. Sure there will be a core of players that will still be at the club, when we get to the championship, but will they be able to hold their own when challenging for further promotion.
Players come and go. Managers, the board members, also. I was going to say just the badge is the same, but that changes also.
No, my friends, just the fans and the entity that is the club is constant.
Rebel_phish
says...
9:26am Thu 31 May 12
TheDukeOfBanbury
says...
9:33am Thu 31 May 12
All the best Lee and hope you like the route one boring football that Westley likes to play.
Rebel_phish
says...
9:45am Thu 31 May 12
EastleazeRed
says...
10:03am Thu 31 May 12
London Red wrote:would love to see Danny ward back here in that position, doubt in now though due to his promotion to the championship !
Smirg - I suggested McGlashen a few weeks ago and got shot down - glad another sees him as an exciting player
.
Maybe we could do a double deal for him and Pack?
.
I personally don't think throwing money around is necessarily a sign of ambition
.
It can simply be a receipe for a disaster - if PNE fail to go up they will head straight for Administration!
.
Richard Wright and Lee Holmes - yes good signings the others - well nothing stands out to me!
.
Ambition to me is signing 2 or 3 key players who will make a difference
.
If we only signed 1 decent striker this summer- who was real quality - that would show me we are ambitious as that is all we are short really
billbst
says...
10:23am Thu 31 May 12
LeGod
says...
11:06am Thu 31 May 12
Its right the club didnt pay stupid money for him. Rooney is still young and is talented and once parts of his game improve i think he will be a better prospect than Holmes.
midland red
says...
11:32am Thu 31 May 12
Onwards and upwards for the Supareds next season!!
the wizard
says...
1:49pm Thu 31 May 12
I do hope that McEverley and Bostock come in though as I see them as far more worthy.
NEWBURYREDS
says...
1:56pm Thu 31 May 12
smirg kcab
says...
2:16pm Thu 31 May 12
London Red wrote:l/r it was you who made me aware of him, and studied him in the playoffs,as I said he has got pace, skill BUT cannot cross a ball for toffee, just like Holmes, yes you may say well he did for x y z goal/miss but on the whole thought his crosses looked very poor on the amount of time he skinned the backs, BUT if di canio wants a replacement on the Holmes style then YES he would be good. I'm sure paolo and the team will/can improve mglashan. Remember our famous anthony mcnamee? Another player who are identical players only I.m.o tho.
Smirg - I suggested McGlashen a few weeks ago and got shot down - glad another sees him as an exciting player
.
Maybe we could do a double deal for him and Pack?
.
I personally don't think throwing money around is necessarily a sign of ambition
.
It can simply be a receipe for a disaster - if PNE fail to go up they will head straight for Administration!
.
Richard Wright and Lee Holmes - yes good signings the others - well nothing stands out to me!
.
Ambition to me is signing 2 or 3 key players who will make a difference
.
If we only signed 1 decent striker this summer- who was real quality - that would show me we are ambitious as that is all we are short really
As for pack yet again scored a great free kick but impressed, NEVER yet again only I.m.o ,
I also think de vita is better than Holmes/mglashan , and smith is twice as good as pack.
Just like to add okane would. Of get in our side last year let alone a higher division.
Saying that paolo I trust
Onwards and up up and away.
Hope this clarifies some points,
don't mean to say I right tho lol.
townie63
says...
3:20pm Thu 31 May 12
Wonder Strike wrote:Agreed, I couldn't see what the fuss was about, a one trick pony.
He was average at best, no way did he deserve to be our highest paid player. Personally I thought De Vita was our best left winger. Very underrated. Obviously Rooney is class too, so why do we need Holmes?
madterrier
says...
4:33pm Thu 31 May 12
Clearly he was first choice for the left wing, and offered something different in that he tried to go outside his man and get to the byeline, unlike our two other 'reverse' wingers, who cut in.
Not sure about the 'defensive duties' bit though! Have you ever seen Rooney track back and make a tackle?!
Still, we can't pay that sort of silly money, and nor should we. Madness. Not that I would turn down a £100k signing-on fee, mind.
Also, I think in League 1 we will play other formations than 4-2-4 with two wingers. Tactically it can be snuffed out quite easily as Chesterfield demonstrated. If we can get someone like Bostock (or actually Bostock!) then I can see us playing three in central midfield at times, so the need for three good wingers may not be as great.
smirg kcab
says...
5:29pm Thu 31 May 12
smirg kcab wrote:would not (should have been)
London Red wrote:l/r it was you who made me aware of him, and studied him in the playoffs,as I said he has got pace, skill BUT cannot cross a ball for toffee, just like Holmes, yes you may say well he did for x y z goal/miss but on the whole thought his crosses looked very poor on the amount of time he skinned the backs, BUT if di canio wants a replacement on the Holmes style then YES he would be good. I'm sure paolo and the team will/can improve mglashan. Remember our famous anthony mcnamee? Another player who are identical players only I.m.o tho.
Smirg - I suggested McGlashen a few weeks ago and got shot down - glad another sees him as an exciting player
.
Maybe we could do a double deal for him and Pack?
.
I personally don't think throwing money around is necessarily a sign of ambition
.
It can simply be a receipe for a disaster - if PNE fail to go up they will head straight for Administration!
.
Richard Wright and Lee Holmes - yes good signings the others - well nothing stands out to me!
.
Ambition to me is signing 2 or 3 key players who will make a difference
.
If we only signed 1 decent striker this summer- who was real quality - that would show me we are ambitious as that is all we are short really
As for pack yet again scored a great free kick but impressed, NEVER yet again only I.m.o ,
I also think de vita is better than Holmes/mglashan , and smith is twice as good as pack.
Just like to add okane would. Of get in our side last year let alone a higher division.
Saying that paolo I trust
Onwards and up up and away.
Hope this clarifies some points,
don't mean to say I right tho lol.
LeGod
says...
6:31pm Thu 31 May 12
as for other players who never seem to improve Walcott to me hasnt improved in the last 5 years and i always get the impression that he never knows what he is going to do next when he has the ball. Always runs into the corner and crossing is poor.
Walcott to me is like a dog - if you put a ball behind the fullback where he has 25-30 yards to get to it he will beat the full back for pace and then once he's there he doesnt know what to do with the ball. A one trick pony who doesnt get involved in games, never breaks into a sweat.
How he gets in the England team is beyond me.
Chamberlain will leave Walcott standing in his progress and is already doing it.
As for Holmes he wont enjoy Westley hoof ball tactics and thats not sour grapes on my part as he has gone to PNE. Holmes should be in a team thats plays football not hoofball and i dont think he will enjoy playing at PNE.
castle9
says...
6:38pm Thu 31 May 12
What is more worrying for me is why were the budgets sorted out and the contracts offered earlier?
No point waiting for PDC to have 3 weeks off and then sit down to talk. This should have been done several weeks before the end of the season when it was obvious we were going to get promoted.
McEverley for example should be signed up by now, not being hawked around the leagues by his agent to the highest bidder.
Oi Den!
says...
7:05pm Thu 31 May 12
castle9 wrote:Castle, perhaps it's a bit harsh to say they were meaningless platitudes. He probably did like it here and would have been happy to sign for us, but 99% of footballers are mercenaries (and why not?), so money usually talks in the end.
Yep, as everyone else has said, he was OK and he would have been a good addition to the squad. Wish him well (even if the sentiments trotted out at the end of last season were meaningless platitudes).
What is more worrying for me is why were the budgets sorted out and the contracts offered earlier?
No point waiting for PDC to have 3 weeks off and then sit down to talk. This should have been done several weeks before the end of the season when it was obvious we were going to get promoted.
McEverley for example should be signed up by now, not being hawked around the leagues by his agent to the highest bidder.
JohnNeal4me
says...
7:51pm Thu 31 May 12
Wilesy
says...
10:00pm Thu 31 May 12
Oi Den! wrote:I can't think of any footballers on loan at a club (particularly those whose contract with their parent club is about to finish), saying they wouldn't fancy staying. However in hindsight parading the nipper around in a Swindon shirt was maybe a bit over the top.
castle9 wrote:Castle, perhaps it's a bit harsh to say they were meaningless platitudes. He probably did like it here and would have been happy to sign for us, but 99% of footballers are mercenaries (and why not?), so money usually talks in the end.
Yep, as everyone else has said, he was OK and he would have been a good addition to the squad. Wish him well (even if the sentiments trotted out at the end of last season were meaningless platitudes).
What is more worrying for me is why were the budgets sorted out and the contracts offered earlier?
No point waiting for PDC to have 3 weeks off and then sit down to talk. This should have been done several weeks before the end of the season when it was obvious we were going to get promoted.
McEverley for example should be signed up by now, not being hawked around the leagues by his agent to the highest bidder.
McEveley being released announcement was on 30th April, Holmes on 19th May, but I guess its a gamble for both player and club as to when to commit for the following season - strike too early and miss out on the best player (club) or deal (player), strike too late and miss out (club, eg Holmes) or maybe not even get a club (player). With a young toddler fair play to Holmes to sorting himself out early.
Presumably clubs with the dosh, eg Preston, can strike early but at premium prices.
the wizard
says...
10:25pm Thu 31 May 12
For those going away for a long weekend, ............ enjoy !!!
Swindon
3ampcb says...
6:16am Thu 31 May 12