We've never stood in the way of big moves for our players

It's part of the deal. If a properly-top side wants to come in for one of ours then if the player wants it and they'll pay the right transfer fee we won't play silly buggers with it. Players (reportedly) appreciate this: we will work hard with them and develop them and not stand in their way if they want to go to a top club.

Where it becomes more hazy is with not-so-top clubs, or situations where they'd be joining someone as second or third string: do you want to play every week for us, or sit on the bench at wherever, even if they will pay you a bigger wage than we will? Do you want to move to wherever now, or develop and grow with us a bit more with the chance of a bigger club coming in for you down the line?

There's no one answer to that: some will happily take the payday and back themselves, rightly or wrongly, to kick on and get in that team. Others will see benefit in continuing to develop with us (and probably use the attention to negotiate a better contract).

I'm resigned to Max leaving in the summer, ideally for Spurs in some kind of Skipp Swapp, though I suspect that's fantasy thinking really (and I have no idea what their valuation of Skipp is - it will be a significant sum, though). I'd love it if he didn't; but if he does, good luck to him. He's given us all we could have asked for and more and has a brilliant attitude and approach that will serve him well wherever he starts next season.

Posted By: Old Man, Mar 10, 09:52:02