25/26 Squad

[Josh2002]

Holden’s tweet implies differently… https://x.com/jholdy01/status/198822860 ... JLl_yHWs2A

[Tony]

I guess we technically release him to enable him to sign on elsewhere. Maybe he is a bit sensitive to the suggestion that we released him regardless of the 7 day approach. When we find out where he has gone the story should fall into place.

[geedub]

My understanding is the 7-day approach implies he is a non-contract player and then I would assume a non-contract player cannot actually be "released" in the formal sense. I guess perhaps it's his registration that has been cancelled which is maybe what the club really meant.

Anyway, he has done a decent job for us this season, great shot blocker but blotted his copybook a little with those few howlers that gave away goals.

Sounds like the new loan keeper, Matt Rowley, did well on Saturday so no immediate worries there other than whatever the length of the loan is...

[Josh2002]

Yes, Rowley impressed me on Saturday, did pretty well at Tonbridge last season too.

[Jamie]

My understanding is the 7-day approach implies he is a non-contract player and then I would assume a non-contract player cannot actually be "released" in the formal sense. I guess perhaps it's his registration that has been cancelled which is maybe what the club really meant.

Anyway, he has done a decent job for us this season, great shot blocker but blotted his copybook a little with those few howlers that gave away goals.

Sounds like the new loan keeper, Matt Rowley, did well on Saturday so no immediate worries there other than whatever the length of the loan is...

Yup "released" is surely an inaccurate phrase. Not that easy or need to cancel a registration, as even if moving on to a different league a club maintains the players registration until transferred through a 7 day approach, even if the club waive the 7 days, a transfer still happens.
If moving to a club in another league, it's effectively dual-registration.

[Tony]

I understand the club that put in the 7 day approach signed someone else instead. By that time we had covered the risk by bringing in the Reading lad.

[Lord Elpus]

I understand the club that put in the 7 day approach signed someone else instead. By that time we had covered the risk by bringing in the Reading lad.

Wow that's a bit harsh of them. He clearly wanted to go by the sound of it?

[geedub]

I understand the club that put in the 7 day approach signed someone else instead. By that time we had covered the risk by bringing in the Reading lad.

What a mess that is then. I can see that the club had look after itself but feels like a tough deal for James Holden. I wonder if the club (Ben Hudson) take a firm line on such situations now. Wasn't there a situation with Bunmi last year where he was talking to another club and dilly-dallying about what to do and in the end we just released him as he was clearly not focussed? (Then he ended up at Chelmsford and then eventually came back to us but couldn't get in the team)

Of course, now we have a goalkeeping problem when Rowley's loan ends.

[Lord Elpus]

I understand the club that put in the 7 day approach signed someone else instead. By that time we had covered the risk by bringing in the Reading lad.

What a mess that is then. I can see that the club had look after itself but feels like a tough deal for James Holden. I wonder if the club (Ben Hudson) take a firm line on such situations now. Wasn't there a situation with Bunmi last year where he was talking to another club and dilly-dallying about what to do and in the end we just released him as he was clearly not focussed? (Then he ended up at Chelmsford and then eventually came back to us but couldn't get in the team)

Of course, now we have a goalkeeping problem when Rowley's loan ends.

I think we've got loads of problems in all honesty, not just a future goalkeeping one.

[Whoryer]

As I said in the summer we shouldn't of wasted alot of the budget on 2 sick notes that have hardly played for 2 years.Badly need to win 1 of our next 2 games as both teams are just above us.

[Tony]

I am only speculating, but a club wouldn’t put in a random 7 day approach without sounding out either the player or his agent. The club no doubt assumed he would leave although had the option to offer new terms to retain him. I have no idea if they did so or made an offer that was declined. Anyway, the club was perfectly within its rights to bring in another keeper. Clearly a risk around the loan being withdrawn but no different to Holden leaving.

[HamptonLifer5]

Can understand the decision to act on Holden either way with decisiveness. What I would add is that when Ted Curd left, ok added with Jack Taylor last season, we fell apart. Why have we then gone back into the loan goalkeeper market when a deal can be cut short instantly, and afterwards we struggle. Merrick was OK, but absolutely nowhere near Curd.