Scunthorpe Utd: O'Conner offer not acceptable
MICHAEL O'Connor's agent says he 'fears the worst' for Scunthorpe United in their bid to tie their star midfielder to a new deal.
Agreement between the two sides is still some way off as wages have become a stumbling block.
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Iron Manager Alan Knill with Michael O'Connor
Freddie Akehurst, of World in Motion Ltd, who represents the Northern Irishman, has revealed O'Connor is being asked to take a significant reduction in income to stay at Glanford Park.
And he has accused the Iron of showing a lack of ambition, arguing they once again run the risk of seeing a key player leave for nothing when the 23-year-old's current contract expires next summer.
"I empathise with the club because they obviously have other financial constraints," said Akehurst.
"But you are naturally disappointed if you are asked to take a reduction, and quite a significant reduction as well, which is not even attractive if they come back to the Championship.
"I don't think the expectations Michael has are ridiculous.
"The terms, or what he is looking for, would not be ridiculous in League One.
"I'm aware of players in League Two who are offered more money than what he's being offered.
"It's disappointing because it's not as if he's a young player coming through or is a squad player. He is a key member of the squad.
"He's given a lot to the club and cares about the club. When they went down it really hit him hard.
"I remember him saying at the back end of last season, 'we'll renegotiate a deal, I'll get my head down and get them back into the Championship'.
"I quite admire him for that. A lot of players in that boat would say, 'I want out'.
"When the offer came in and it was less than what he's on, it was disappointing."
In contrast to United boss Alan Knill, who remains 'hopeful' a positive conclusion will be reached, Akehurst believes talks have reached a stalemate.
Along with colleague Andy Evans, he has been in discussion with the club and expects the issue will drag on for some time.
"We've just hit a bit of a wall really," he said.
"Michael would like to get it sorted because he likes being at the club.
"He's spent two years there, he's got two little ones and he's settled with a family.
"But if terms can't be agreed, they can't be agreed.
"I would like to think we can sort something out but I just think we are so far apart in our thought process that I fear the worst – the worst for the club because I don't want to be in a position, and Michael doesn't want to be in a position, where we let the club down by not signing.
"I don't want to let them down. I've got a great relationship with Alan Knill.
"We don't want to let them down by seeming awkward.
"It's up to Scunthorpe to make the decision how much he is worth to them.
"I can't see it happening any day soon, unless there is a drastic U-turn at the club.
"It's up to them. The ball is completely in their court."
Rumours have circulated over the summer linking O'Connor with several clubs, including Scottish Premier League side Celtic – the club he supported as a boy.
However, no contact has been made, according to Akehurst, who, despite the current situation, insists money is not important to the ex-Crewe midfielder.
"It's not about the money with Michael, it's about what's right and it (the offer) wasn't right," he said. "He was quite shocked.
"But I don't want to put all the blame on Scunthorpe because I know financial security is important.
"People have to be prudent and football clubs have to be prudent, I understand that. But if they made the budget a bit better and maybe became more ambitious...
"I know they have missed out on players because they've not put the right offers in.
"But you have to ask yourself, where do you want to be? That's the question.
"Do you want to be in the Championship or do you want to be in League One.
"If they carry on, there's only one way you're going to go and that's to start regressing as a club.
"I think Michael would be happy to stay but it's an awkward one.
"It's a dangerous game to play.
"If you go in with an offer that low, you risk irritating the player."
Manager Knill meanwhile, is confident O'Connor would continue to make great strides if he sticks with Scunthorpe.
"I think it's a good place for Michael," he said. "He's a really talented footballer and we think with us he can get even better.
"We're confident that by the time he comes back for pre-season, we'll have another chat and see whether we get close, or not close, to agreeing."
22 Comments
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by Iron123
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 7:59PM
“Why have a deadline at all, for season tickets?
There are loads of ways in which to attract supporters - by churning out this rubbish, all you are doing is praising the inept. What have SUFC done that justifies praise, in the last year?
Relegation?
A couple of freebies from Div 2?
A fiver off season tickets?
Rotherham away in a friendly?
New kit?
I'm suprised we sell as many tickets as we do - take away local loyalty and there is NOTHING at GP that would attract a floating fan.”
by TW13_Iron
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 7:40PM
“Bang. Brick Wall, and Head, Robin!”
by carllewis2010
Monday, June 27 2011, 7:49PM
“Keep happy clapping Mr Jackson ,all the way to the conference,you are obviously a SET or SUFC employee.The fans will attend if the club shows the slightest bit of ambition on and off the pitch.Would,nt it be a good time to hold another fans forum on radio dull,i wonder if Wharton or any of the board would show up this time,i doubt it as they dont care about the supporters of SUFC,its just a hobby to Wharton and chums and always has been.WHARTON OUT! "UP THE IRON"!!!”
by RobinJackson1
Monday, June 27 2011, 6:36PM
“At least TW13 iron and Oscarmoggy can read what is written not what they think is written.
I don't blame the fans that turn up but those that dont. When you have some on here defending the low turn out for what was our most successful season in the memory of most of us we will never go forward. Get your heads out of the sand and see the attendance figures of 2006/7 for what they were - pathetic. Three days after the Gillingham game we went to Crewe and they had over 4,800 turn up and they were languishing in mid-table. We should have packed the ground for every game from Christmas onwards. The ground has a capacity of approx 9,100 - take away approx 1,700 for the away end and we 7,400 spaces for home fans yet a total attendance of 5,312 including away fans was present for that Gillingham game. Pathetic. Stop defending the indefensible and ask yourself why so few turned up to se the best team I've ever seen play for Scunthorpe United.
In short the vast majority of the townsfolk aren't interested unless we are playing the likes of Man Utd or Newcastle.”
by carllewis2010
Monday, June 27 2011, 4:12PM
“Replying to TW13,is there no wonder our club is going backwards when people like yourselves,always defend Wharton and the board no matter what.We have seen no significant ground improvement since 1988,just one false promise after another,Wharton is back in his comfort zone,and when the next chairman takes charge the club will be on its knees.What upsets me the most is through lack of ambition the club is in freefall ,and we are suppost to accept this without challenge.WHARTON OUT ! "UP THE IRON"!!!”
by TW13_Iron
Monday, June 27 2011, 3:43PM
“In reply to Carl Lewis; How many Conference grounds have you been to? Grimsby, Lincoln, Luton, Kidderminster, Darlington, Mansfield?? If so then yes, you can rightly say Glanford Park is Conference standard. But then again so would at least three quarters of League One grounds. Compare them with Braintree, Hayes & Yeading, Ebbsfleet, Barrow amongst others and your stadium argument falls someway short.
At the end of the day we will see very soon whether or not there is someone out there who wants to take the reigns from Mr Wharton and only then can we judge just how good or bad a job he is done. But supporters who know the bigger picture already know the answer, the rest of you will just have to wait.
As regards Season Tickets Iron 123, do you want the deadline extended or brought forward? Because I can kindly inform you that the reduction cut off point of June 30th is one of the latest amongst Premier and Football League clubs.”
by Iron123
Monday, June 27 2011, 9:33AM
“Good to see one member of United staff working over the summer - Chris Mumby, the online Alaister Campbell and hardest working man on the internet...must have got fed up with multi posting on Iron Bru, following supporters around online so he is now on here.
5,300 against Gillingham is an attendence we can only dream of now - thats just shy of 1,000 short of home capacity less the 2,100 away fans...not bad at all for a club that cant even put strips in the shop, organise a quality friendly in the last decade or host an open day - AND WHY HAVE A 'DEADLINE' FOR SEASON TICKETS THATS NOT ALTERED SINCE 1960? Create an attractive package and advertise it all the way up until August FHS...they're are numerous reasons that we dont attract 35,000 every week to a super stadium but none of them are the supporters - the fans pay top whack to a club that rewards them with constant drivel in the press and at every turn seeks to fool them with lies over tansfers and new stands that never happen.
The time to pogress the club was five years ago and now we are stood at the station but the train has left - wondering why no one bought into £25 tickets and a club that has never budged beyond Div level interest....first to blame would be whoever is managing the clubs media ...oh aye he's on here all day or Iron Bru impersonating the people who pay his wage - DISGRACEFUL.
UP THE IRON!”
by bartonscorp
Sunday, June 26 2011, 11:33PM
“IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE E/T THAT CAN EXPLAIN WHY THE COMMENTS OF ZOFF AND MY OWN HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS LIST OF COMMENTS.
THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN THINK OF, IS THAT YOU DO NOT LIKE THE TRUTH FROM LONG STANDING LOYAL SUPPORTERS, YOU JUST REQUIRE WHARTON **** LICKERS.”
by carllewis2010
Sunday, June 26 2011, 9:55PM
“Your quite right there will be no new investors,because Wharton does not want investment in SUFC,we have missed an oppurtunity for our club to progress ,the grounds conference standard at best 3 years in the championship have seen the club go backwards,poor old Mr Wharton at least you can take your 500k loan with you when you finally go.i await the happy clappers response ,i am not sorry for telling you what many supporters think,we have no ambition at board level at SUFC.WHARTON OUT! "UP THE IRON"!!!”
by oscarmoggy
Sunday, June 26 2011, 9:05PM
“A very good point Mr Jackson. Over the last few years we've played three seasons in the championship, we've had visits from Premiership clubs Villa, Everton, Man City & Man Utd. But only filled the ground once. Yet there are some people who want a new , bigger stadium, no point until the townsfolk show they want a football team.”