IN A week when Paul Sales,
Steve Watts and Chris
Piper have left the
Eastleigh players fold,
manager Ian Baird says he
is not bothered if any others
want to follow them
through the Silverlake
Stadium exit door.
The Spitfires boss is not a great fan
of what he refers to as footballs silly
season and has already had his fill of
players and their agents trying to
squeeze all they can out of the club.
Putting it bluntly, he feels that in
missing out on the Blue Square South
play-offs, Eastleigh C himself included
C underachieved and that, if anything,
his players have been overpaid
for what was ultimately a season of
failure.
We did throw the kitchen sink at
trying to get into the play-offs and we
did slightly overpay on certain players
and are still overpaying some of
our current players, he said. As a
group we didnt achieve what we set
out to do, so my message to anyone
who feels they want to move on is
please do.
While 30-something strikers Sales
and Watts were released partly
because Baird is looking for a side
with a bit more legs next season,
defender/midfielder Piper declined
the offer of a new contract.
I desperately wanted to keep Chris
Piper, but our financial situation dictated
that we offered him a lesser deal
which he turned down, said Baird.
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Ive asked him to think about it, but
he can probably go and get what he
was on at Eastleigh somewhere else
and Im afraid thats not in my budget
remit.
In Paul Saless case, he did tremendously
well here, showed a great attitude
and I cant praise him highly
enough, but I do want a bit more legs
up front.
If Steve Watts had been fit, I would
have re-signed him, but hes got too
many on-going injury problems and I
was only prepared to offer him preseason
initially. He said hed got
offers on the table elsewhere, so I
advised him to go and take them.
Eastleigh still have 11 contracted
players C Jason Matthews, Andy
Harris, Luke Byles, Ashley Vickers,
Jamie Brown, Anthony Riviere,
Andy Forbes, Mark Marshall, Matt
Hann, Karl Murray and Peter
Adeniyi. Defenders Warren
Goodhind and Chris Collins are both
believed to have rejected reduced
deals, while Adam Everitt has so far
been invited back only for pre-season.
Ive had calls from agents representing
my players and Ive told them
that if they can find them better deals
with other clubs, then go ahead C and
Im talking about everyone there,
said Baird.
I get fed up with this every year.
These players are in Conference
South part-time football, but about 90
per cent of them dont work so they
consider themselves to be professional
footballers, training twice a week
and playing on a Saturday.
In my book, anyone who wants
money in life has got to earn it and,
unfortunately this season, we underachieved
and we didnt earn it.
Now Ive got players telling me
they want this and that but the question
I ask is: Did this group of players
really want promotion?
ñ Bairds old club Havant have
made their first big summer signing,
capturing former Wycombe and
Republic of Ireland under-21 centreback
Ian Simpemba on a two-year
deal from BSS champions Lewes.
Simpembas arrival could hasten
the exit of Hawks unsettled defender
Tom Jordan, who desperately wanted
to follow Baird to Eastleigh last season.
But it is unlikely the Spitfires
could afford him now having already
signed Ashley Vickers from
Weymouth.
Posted by: SL HWFC, Hedge End on 2:00pm Sat 10 May 08
Interesting comments from the Bald one...
And here's me wondering what the building works were for down at WLP (Because our ground has been Conf standard for several seasons you know...), and then I realised it was the revolving door for the home dressing room being removed and transported down the M27 for Bairdy to use at Eastleigh.
Seems like your Boss has got a bit of a strop on with his players, also seems that there's plenty of reduced contract offers being slapped onto the table, and players are walking...
Anyone worried...?
Interesting comments from the Bald one...
And here's me wondering what the building works were for down at WLP (Because our ground has been Conf standard for several seasons you know...), and then I realised it was the revolving door for the home dressing room being removed and transported down the M27 for Bairdy to use at Eastleigh.
Seems like your Boss has got a bit of a strop on with his players, also seems that there's plenty of reduced contract offers being slapped onto the table, and players are walking...
Posted by: Froaker, Eastleigh on 5:26pm Sat 10 May 08
'These players are in Conference South part-time football, but about 90 per cent of them dont work so they consider themselves to be professional footballers, [bold]training twice a week[/bold] and playing on a Saturday'...and there lies the problem
'These players are in Conference South part-time football, but about 90 per cent of them dont work so they consider themselves to be professional footballers, training twice a week and playing on a Saturday'...and there lies the problem
Posted by: Loud & Proud EFC, Bishopstoke on 9:35pm Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]SL HWFC[/bold] wrote:
Interesting comments from the Bald one... And here\'s me wondering what the building works were for down at WLP (Because our ground has been Conf standard for several seasons you know...), and then I realised it was the revolving door for the home dressing room being removed and transported down the M27 for Bairdy to use at Eastleigh. Seems like your Boss has got a bit of a strop on with his players, also seems that there\'s plenty of reduced contract offers being slapped onto the table, and players are walking... Anyone worried...?[/quote] The revolving door was built long befor Bairdy turned up Simon.
Perhaps they were paying to much and have woken up to the fact some of the players didn't deserve wot they were getting.Must say thought Piper was 1 of our better players last season.WTF is Everitt doing coming in for pre season training.Get rid of him and get Ian Oliver back
No thanks for asking.
Awaiting Ketch's return from holiday.Do you think Dozzy left when he did coz Marks away:O)
Have a good summer Simon and the rest of the H&W chaps n chapes's
SL HWFC wrote:
Interesting comments from the Bald one... And here\'s me wondering what the building works were for down at WLP (Because our ground has been Conf standard for several seasons you know...), and then I realised it was the revolving door for the home dressing room being removed and transported down the M27 for Bairdy to use at Eastleigh. Seems like your Boss has got a bit of a strop on with his players, also seems that there\'s plenty of reduced contract offers being slapped onto the table, and players are walking... Anyone worried...?
The revolving door was built long befor Bairdy turned up Simon.
Perhaps they were paying to much and have woken up to the fact some of the players didn't deserve wot they were getting.Must say thought Piper was 1 of our better players last season.WTF is Everitt doing coming in for pre season training.Get rid of him and get Ian Oliver back
No thanks for asking.
Awaiting Ketch's return from holiday.Do you think Dozzy left when he did coz Marks away:O)
Have a good summer Simon and the rest of the H&W chaps n chapes's
Posted by: SL HWFC, Hedge End on 10:41am Sun 11 May 08
Quality Loud - I reckon you've got the reason for Dozzy's departure tme spot on!
Everitt I'm afraid is a typical Baird signing - he never watches players, and he signs them off the back of one good game against whoever he's managing at the time. Ashan Holgate is a great example - he ripped us a new orifice when we played them at Weston last season, Bairdy moved to you a few eeeks later and signed him, only to release him about six weeks later.
One day he may get his recruitment policy right - I'm not saying everyone he brought in for us was poor, but some of his signings were hit and miss to put it mildly. But Galeys doing something about this as we speak.
Agree about Everitt - possibly the poorest fullback I've seen in years at this level. You need rid of him!
Quality Loud - I reckon you've got the reason for Dozzy's departure tme spot on!
Everitt I'm afraid is a typical Baird signing - he never watches players, and he signs them off the back of one good game against whoever he's managing at the time. Ashan Holgate is a great example - he ripped us a new orifice when we played them at Weston last season, Bairdy moved to you a few eeeks later and signed him, only to release him about six weeks later.
One day he may get his recruitment policy right - I'm not saying everyone he brought in for us was poor, but some of his signings were hit and miss to put it mildly. But Galeys doing something about this as we speak.
Agree about Everitt - possibly the poorest fullback I've seen in years at this level. You need rid of him!
Posted by: Andy Andrews, West End on 12:09pm Mon 12 May 08
The players bottled it and threw away our play off spot and are now revolting over money, and long-term club stalwart Paul Doswell has given up and left in disgust, it seems. I abandoned watching Saints over such behaviour, and now it appears that Eastleigh are going the same way. Get a grip, Eastleigh, or I'll be looking for a new club to support next season.
The players bottled it and threw away our play off spot and are now revolting over money, and long-term club stalwart Paul Doswell has given up and left in disgust, it seems. I abandoned watching Saints over such behaviour, and now it appears that Eastleigh are going the same way. Get a grip, Eastleigh, or I'll be looking for a new club to support next season.
I don't think theres a player revolt against pay.Paul Sales was leaving to go to Vosper next season 3/4 months ago Watts was n't guaranteed a game and piper yes was told about a pay cut.
The problem is that a certain person signed on players on high wages and grazy long contracts.
Ian Baird dosn't beleave in long contracts or high basic wages. more on bonus inhansed wages like when he was at Havant.
Dos hasn't left in disgust.But his main reason is because he can't be the manager.Which he so desparatly wanted to be again.
In the long run this might just be the best thing all around, that others can make decision without Dos wanting his own way.Which happened alot in the past.
If players don't want to play for Eastleigh and are only here for the money get rid of them and bring in players that do .But the clubs hands are tied by these stupid contracts
I don't think theres a player revolt against pay.Paul Sales was leaving to go to Vosper next season 3/4 months ago Watts was n't guaranteed a game and piper yes was told about a pay cut.
The problem is that a certain person signed on players on high wages and grazy long contracts.
Ian Baird dosn't beleave in long contracts or high basic wages. more on bonus inhansed wages like when he was at Havant.
Dos hasn't left in disgust.But his main reason is because he can't be the manager.Which he so desparatly wanted to be again.
In the long run this might just be the best thing all around, that others can make decision without Dos wanting his own way.Which happened alot in the past.
If players don't want to play for Eastleigh and are only here for the money get rid of them and bring in players that do .But the clubs hands are tied by these stupid contracts
Non league fans comments so far are right, you just couldnt buy success - still all of you loyal fans who never supported EFC in the JWL can return to the premiership I suppose
Non league fans comments so far are right, you just couldnt buy success - still all of you loyal fans who never supported EFC in the JWL can return to the premiership I suppose
Posted by: matty, southampton on 6:11am Wed 25 Jun 08
[quote][bold]Andy Andrews[/bold] wrote:
The players bottled it and threw away our play off spot and are now revolting over money, and long-term club stalwart Paul Doswell has given up and left in disgust, it seems. I abandoned watching Saints over such behaviour, and now it appears that Eastleigh are going the same way. Get a grip, Eastleigh, or I'll be looking for a new club to support next season. [/quote] Not the kind of fan any club wants really are you? Jump ship at any slight problem! Why don't you p!55 off and support Man U then? Prat
Andy Andrews wrote:
The players bottled it and threw away our play off spot and are now revolting over money, and long-term club stalwart Paul Doswell has given up and left in disgust, it seems. I abandoned watching Saints over such behaviour, and now it appears that Eastleigh are going the same way. Get a grip, Eastleigh, or I'll be looking for a new club to support next season.
Not the kind of fan any club wants really are you? Jump ship at any slight problem! Why don't you p!55 off and support Man U then? Prat
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