Cole Stockton Generally?

[Keith]

The rest of Cole's career. Played 163 scored 21.
Cole's Morecambe career. Played 140 scored 48.

If it turns out that he is taking the p**s, then I hope he finds out that the grass isn't always greener, and his goal return, drops back to previous levels.

[Redalert1970]

If he doesn't want to play for my great club anymore then good riddance

No player is bigger than the club ... We will move on like we always do

[Born again Bill]

How to go from hero to zero ( if true )

[Andy D]

worse thing about this is the timing of it, we all stressed at the end of last season that if he is to go then so be it at the start of the transfer window so we can find a replacement.

[redrobo]

The fans have done their bit in buying more season tickets this season than last which is what the BoD asked.

Maybe it's time that the BoD told us what is going on with Cole. Has he handed in a transfer request and have there been any offers to date that have not met the clubs own value for Cole...

Until our BoD tell the fans the current situation then the rumours will continue which is likely to increase as the silence grows.

[Old Man Kensey]

If true he can forget his spot on the Legends wall.

[black morse]

The fans have done their bit in buying more season tickets this season than last which is what the BoD asked.

Maybe it's time that the BoD told us what is going on with Cole. Has he handed in a transfer request and have there been any offers to date that have not met the clubs own value for Cole...

Until our BoD tell the fans the current situation then the rumours will continue which is likely to increase as the silence grows.

We all want to know what is going on but there maybe very delicate negotiations going on which could be harmed by revelations at this time. The board have worked well for the fans over the past few years and I think we must just be patient with them now. Deadline day is the end of this month so we will know whether we have or have not got Cole by then. Until we know I suggest we stop slagging him off.

[redrobo]

I for one like many others are not slagging Cole off, just feel as we love our club wish to know what is going on.

BUT as you suggested in another post 'we should stopping worrying about things that we can do nothing about'...BUT easier said than done.

[SEASIDECLARET]

I don’t think any club(or business) not just our club can respond to every bit of speculation, rumour or gossip, nor do I fell it’s appropriate. When you go through the papers, media and pundits like Nixon and John Pearcy, there are hundreds of snippet’s of info every day, and responding to things would just create more of the same As has been said, the BOD are there to run the club as best they can, within whatever confines there are, and I am sure when the time is right a statement explaining the situation will be issued, in the meantime, don’t worry about things you can’t control, as that great philosopher Sean Dyche said, you can only control the controlables

[Keith]

I don’t think any club(or business) not just our club can respond to every bit of speculation, rumour or gossip, nor do I fell it’s appropriate. When you go through the papers, media and pundits like Nixon and John Pearcy, there are hundreds of snippet’s of info every day, and responding to things would just create more of the same As has been said, the BOD are there to run the club as best they can, within whatever confines there are, and I am sure when the time is right a statement explaining the situation will be issued, in the meantime, don’t worry about things you can’t control, as that great philosopher Sean Dyche said, you can only control the controlables

I broadly agree, but this isn't just any little bit of speculation, it is a key player, who was missing in the last two games.

Obviously, there are difficulties for the club. If, as the club report, Cole is "off sick", then there really isn't anything else that they can add. They can't (and shouldn't) go in to why he's off, that's a private matter. But, if he's "off sick" AND negotiating a move, then the sooner he's gone, the better.

If the situation goes on until too close to the transfer window closing, we may actually be better off keeping him, and sticking him in the reserves, rather than sell him to a rival club, as him going to [say] Shrewsbury or Fleetwood may be the difference between them going down instead of us. In that case, keep him until Christmas, then, let him go for peanuts. Right now, if a League Two or National League side want him...

Or... Take it at face value and get well soon Cole!

[Keith]

Derek interview pre-Oxford. Hmm...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V_JLvwvbmU

[Born again Bill]

Obviously, there are difficulties for the club. If, as the club report, Cole is "off sick", then there really isn't anything else that they can add. They can't (and shouldn't) go in to why he's off, that's a private matter. But, if he's "off sick" AND negotiating a move, then the sooner he's gone, the better.

If the situation goes on until too close to the transfer window closing, we may actually be better off keeping him, and sticking him in the reserves, rather than sell him to a rival club, as him going to [say] Shrewsbury or Fleetwood may be the difference between them going down instead of us. In that case, keep him until Christmas, then, let him go for peanuts. Right now, if a League Two or National League side want him...

Or... Take it at face value and get well soon Cole![/quote]

In this weeks podcast Charlie A did say that Cole had handed a doctors note in to the club , he also said “ I know everything but I can’t say everything ! , 14 mins:15 seconds into podcast . Something going on but understandably he can’t say !

[turnbull-9]

I don't really understand the negativity towards Cole wanting to leave.

He is in the prime of his career and footballers have short careers and at this level aren't paid loads.
So he has to make money while he can as a footballer. So why would he not want a move to increase his pay. We don't have the budget other teams have.

The timing of the transfer request is the only problem I have with it, as we now need a replacement in the final 2 weeks of the transfer window.

Without his goals last season, we wouldn't still be in league 1.

[Keith]

The timing of the transfer request is the only problem I have with it, as we now need a replacement in the final 2 weeks of the transfer window.

The timing of the request AND going off sick at the same time. Two games missed where, potentially, with Stockton playing AND giving 100%, we may have gained more points. Already, we're in a season long relegation battle.

If you are too sick to work, handing in a transfer request is unlikely to be top of your thoughts. Manipulating a situation where we're forced to take a lower offer, just to get rid, is pretty scummy. So IF that is what is going on, I hope he misses a deadline move and sits in the reserves until Christmas.

Weakening ourselves, while strengthening a rival, on the cheap, is damaging us three-fold. Better to take simply take the financial hit.

[KenH]

The timing of the transfer request is the only problem I have with it, as we now need a replacement in the final 2 weeks of the transfer window.

The timing of the request AND going off sick at the same time. Two games missed where, potentially, with Stockton playing AND giving 100%, we may have gained more points. Already, we're in a season long relegation battle.

If you are too sick to work, handing in a transfer request is unlikely to be top of your thoughts. Manipulating a situation where we're forced to take a lower offer, just to get rid, is pretty scummy. So IF that is what is going on, I hope he misses a deadline move and sits in the reserves until Christmas.

Weakening ourselves, while strengthening a rival, on the cheap, is damaging us three-fold. Better to take simply take the financial hit.

We can't afford a decent replacement striker AND continue to pay Cole to sit in the reserves! If we're continuing to pay Cole, he has to play virtually every game because we've no one else.

If he's not going to perform, then he has to go and we have to use the money we'd have paid him to pay for a decent replacement.

[turnbull-9]

I will agree that being off "sick" and not playing while trying to get a move is bad.

However, we do not need to accept a bid from a rival, that would just be a bad decision by the club.

If a team comes in who is not a direct rival and pays a decent amount then let him go. It would benefit both parties and wouldn't be a problem.

Why keep him in the reserves if he doesn't leave (which is unlikely he won't), that would not benefit the team or him.
We would be paying for a person to do nothing and he would want to play as if he plays and does well, he will attract more attention from potential clubs to leave in either January or next summer when his contract expires.

[SEASIDECLARET]

Unfortunately we can’t let him sit his time out in the Reserves……….because we haven’t got a reserve team anymore!!

[Keith]

I will agree that being off "sick" and not playing while trying to get a move is bad.

However, we do not need to accept a bid from a rival, that would just be a bad decision by the club.

If a team comes in who is not a direct rival and pays a decent amount then let him go. It would benefit both parties and wouldn't be a problem.

Why keep him in the reserves if he doesn't leave (which is unlikely he won't), that would not benefit the team or him.
We would be paying for a person to do nothing and he would want to play as if he plays and does well, he will attract more attention from potential clubs to leave in either January or next summer when his contract expires.

Because wandering around, half-heartedly, will. rub off on other members of the squad pretty quickly. Obviously, he doesn't want to play for us, so he's trying to force us to take a cut price offer to get rid of him. Selling him to [say] Fleetwood for £120k strengthens our direct rival in the relegation battle while not giving us time to find a replacement, nor enough money to splash out either. He may as well go on 'long term sick', and be done with it.

And if he is, genuinely off sick, then why no questions in Derek's interview?

[Keith]

Unfortunately we can’t let him sit his time out in the Reserves……….because we haven’t got a reserve team anymore!!

That's true (and a shame!). "Training on his own" like Kev did.

But, we'll take any offer and give him what he is wanting, leaving ourselves weaker.

I hope Obika clicks in to. gear soon. It will obviously take a few games to get up to match speed. I reckon we're going to have to find the answer within the existing... ...'healthy'... squad.

[CityShrimp]

I don’t mean to go off-topic (well, I do..) but do we really not have a reserve team anymore? I must have missed that one

[turnbull-9]

Not exactly a good club model is it.

[KenH]

Unfortunately we can’t let him sit his time out in the Reserves……….because we haven’t got a reserve team anymore!!

That's true (and a shame!). "Training on his own" like Kev did.

But, we'll take any offer and give him what he is wanting, leaving ourselves weaker.

I hope Obika clicks in to. gear soon. It will obviously take a few games to get up to match speed. I reckon we're going to have to find the answer within the existing... ...'healthy'... squad.

Not really. If Cole goes, we'll use the money to bring in another decent striker. If he stays, it's in his interests to make an effort, otherwise no one will want him next Summer.

On current form, Obika simply doesn't cut it and unless DA thinks there's room for massive improvement, he needs selling before the end of the month as I think he'll just be a passenger.

Hope DA has two strikers waiting in the wings to replace Obika (and maybe Cole) in the next two weeks. Otherwise we may as well give up the season now and accept relegation.

[Alan]

I hope Obika clicks in to. gear soon. It will obviously take a few games to get up to match speed. I reckon we're going to have to find the answer within the existing... ...'healthy'... squad.

If Obika seems to be struggling , might it be worth giving AOC a run out up front for the last 30 mins. He is tall and strong and could hold the ball up whilst others make the runs off him. Just a thought as I don't like to see talent wasted !

[Keith]

Not really. If Cole goes, we'll use the money to bring in another decent striker. If he stays, it's in his interests to make an effort, otherwise no one will want him next Summer.

If Cole goes, having forced a cut-price fee, Derek may have only [say] £75k to bring in an equal standard striker. I doubt if that striker exists. We've only got eleven days to sort out a transfer for Stockton and then bring in this other striker... ...and counting.

[Angler1]

Exactly how much has bee offered, and if 3 clubs are after him then surely a bidding war will start . I personally think he will struggle at another club he has only had 1 good season really so sell him at best price and get in another striker Quigley at Stockport could be a good shout..