Martin's fears over Town sale (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
Get involved! Send photos, video, news & views. Text WILTS GAZETTE to 80360 or email us
SWINDON TOWN: Martin's fears over Town sale
6:00am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in Sport Exclusive By Andy Warren
Town's Chris Martin
STRIKER Chris Martin has admitted he would be disappointed to see off-the-field issues scupper his chances of staying at the County Ground until the end of the season.
With Swindon Town currently up for sale manager Paolo Di Canio has no money with which to add to his squad during this month’s transfer window and, with the loans of Martin and Danny Hollands up on February 2, it was revealed last week those deals will not be extended unless a buyer is lined up in time.
Di Canio has previously insisted he would be willing to spend his own money to keep his loan stars at the club and Martin took great confidence from that show of faith, saying he is hopeful of staying in Wiltshire for the duration of the club’s promotion challenge.
“I have spoken to the manager and he has made his position clear, and I am clear in what I want to do and that is stay here until the end of the season,” he said.
“It would be a disappointment if that doesn’t happen, but I can’t think of that and I want to focus on football and score as many goals and pick up as many points as possible.
“To hear the manager say things like that (spending his own money to extend the loan) is flattering for me and Danny, because it is good enough just to get in his squad let alone say things like that.
“It’s a massive confidence booster and I am looking to use that to spur me on because he has been there and done it himself as a player.”
While Martin continues to think about his possible future with Swindon, he believes the squad shouldn’t think too far ahead and the prospect of being involved in a battle for automatic promotion.
“We are not going to get too carried away, and although it is an old cliché and it is very boring, we are just going to take each game as it comes,” he said.
“If you look too far ahead you can go into things and get carried away with yourself.
“Our next game is Tranmere and they have done very well since the last time we played them, so they are going to be hard to beat.
“It is exciting to be playing in a game which is third against first, and we will be going there to give a good account of ourselves.”
Comments(15)
LeGod
says...
8:06am Tue 22 Jan 13
I think him and williams work well together and lets hope we can keep the partnership going all season.
Worried about bids coming in for Ritchie though and lets hope the board turn down any offers that come in.
oncearedalwaysared
says...
8:11am Tue 22 Jan 13
They are obviously looking for a replacement for Zaha, but unless they re-invest at least £2 million on an offer for Ritchie they will be rebuffed immediately.
PDC needs the squad he has to clinch promotion and with that comes the added 'value' to new investors. Black is too good a businessman to take a quick profit on the sale of one player to the detriment of the sale value of STFC if we fail to gain promotion.
grove red
says...
8:27am Tue 22 Jan 13
Is that you Lovesey
says...
8:29am Tue 22 Jan 13
Another view
says...
9:11am Tue 22 Jan 13
What a message that would send out to a potential buyer. With their chances of promotion so positive, they could be very well rewarded within a few months.
SAPFanSTFC
says...
9:17am Tue 22 Jan 13
Is that you Lovesey wrote:I think that £1.5 million would be hard to refuse and add in a sell-on clause. Mind you I don't think a sell-on would hold too much value as he would probably be offloaded next January if Palace got to the Premier league.
If we get an offer for ritchie that is 2 million we would be stupid not to take it, we received less for Austin...
deviant in the tupping pen
says...
9:18am Tue 22 Jan 13
oz ashes wrote:Are you serious? Would you work for the best part of 4 months for no wages? Or do you know that Norwich are already paying a large chunk of his wages, in which case I see your point.
sign on loan till the end of the season for no wages from town and that will then show how much you want to stay here
Davidsyrett
says...
9:31am Tue 22 Jan 13
SAPFanSTFC wrote:I think alot will depend on the likelihood of the club being bought, If there's no realist deal on the table in the next week or so then an offer of £1.5M might well tempt the club to sell,
Is that you Lovesey wrote:I think that £1.5 million would be hard to refuse and add in a sell-on clause. Mind you I don't think a sell-on would hold too much value as he would probably be offloaded next January if Palace got to the Premier league.
If we get an offer for ritchie that is 2 million we would be stupid not to take it, we received less for Austin...
SAPFanSTFC
says...
9:36am Tue 22 Jan 13
Davidsyrett wrote:Very true....although it would also be a question to put to Matt as it would be a good opportunity for him as well.
SAPFanSTFC wrote:I think alot will depend on the likelihood of the club being bought, If there's no realist deal on the table in the next week or so then an offer of £1.5M might well tempt the club to sell,
Is that you Lovesey wrote:I think that £1.5 million would be hard to refuse and add in a sell-on clause. Mind you I don't think a sell-on would hold too much value as he would probably be offloaded next January if Palace got to the Premier league.
If we get an offer for ritchie that is 2 million we would be stupid not to take it, we received less for Austin...
---
We'd find out an awful lot from a bid of that magnitude.
old town robin
says...
9:39am Tue 22 Jan 13
Another view wrote:I think you have made a very good point. Paolo has already said he would chip in £30k and if this "group" is as close as he has intimated, then a wage deferal by the higher earners could help us to keep Martin and Holland, it would certainly show unity within the ranks..
It wouldn't do the players' prospects any harm if the higher earners at the club offered to take a pay cut till a serious offer was made.
What a message that would send out to a potential buyer. With their chances of promotion so positive, they could be very well rewarded within a few months.
Hope Holland's injury isn't too bad, he was not at his best on Saturday before getting injured, but still a very good player at this level.
wraxall
says...
10:41am Tue 22 Jan 13
monies being donated after the call
for fund raising to help Paolo's £30k
offer.It would be nice to hear the latest update or perhaps they got very little response!
Fernham Red
says...
11:53am Tue 22 Jan 13
oz ashes
says...
1:14pm Tue 22 Jan 13
deviant in the tupping pen wrote:i dont think town wouldnt be paying half his wages but what i was getting at if he really wanted to stay he would make some sacrifices as he said in paragraph 4
oz ashes wrote: sign on loan till the end of the season for no wages from town and that will then show how much you want to stay hereAre you serious? Would you work for the best part of 4 months for no wages? Or do you know that Norwich are already paying a large chunk of his wages, in which case I see your point.
SAPFanSTFC
says...
1:17pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Fernham Red wrote:Thanks for that Fernham Red....I look forward to seeing this apology in a high profile position in next week's paper.
Chaps, just got a direct response back from the league papers editor, David Emery, they've contacted the club and an apology is being written by Chris Dunlavy. They've been quick to respond and freely admit that they got the focus wrong. I'm still disappointed but glad that they've realised they've been shooting the wrong ducks. I think the article will have more of a leaning towards sustainability in the game of football and that is a very valid thread for discussion in the football league.
---
As many of us have said it was a bit surprising as it has always been a very fair and interesting read - even from the reporter in question...a huge embarrassment for them no doubt.
oz ashes says...
8:02am Tue 22 Jan 13