More for the door
Last updated : 11 May 2005 By Keith Allman
As expected, Patrik Berger and Hayden Foxe will not be offered new contracts this summer. This comes just a day after the news that Shaka Hislop and more surpisingly Steve Stone will also both be flung into the big wide world next week.
The departure of Berger hardly comes as a shock. Make no bones about it, he's one of the most talented footballers at the club and has the ability to score fantastic goals and change games. Unfortunately, he's probably played well four or five times this season, and for £20,000+ a week you have to start questioning the business sense of keeping him on.
What's more, it's believed that we were only prepared to offer him one more year at around £20,000 for seven days hard labour. Meanwhile, Aston Villa are believed to be waiting in the wings with a two year deal worth £27,000 a week PLUS a large signing on fee. Fair play to Paddy; he's got to start hoarding his cash before he retires and if he can get another big pay day I don't think anyone will really begrudge him the chance.
On the other hand we have Foxey and you've got to feel sorry for him. Despite being slightly error-prone he was still a big part of our promotion success but due to injury hasn't played since the league defeat at Southampton last season (that's seventeen months ago, stat fans). He'll be allowed to train with us during pre-season on a trial basis to see if he's got "the skills to pay the bills" and possibly earn a new contract, and in a way that makes sense - after all we've paid his wages for nearly year and a half so there's no point in completely cutting our losses - but with Reggie no doubt looking for his own targets, I'd be surprised if anything comes of it. A pity we never got to see if he's up to Premiership standard.
Another two of the wage bill, another two that'll need replacing. It's going to be busy this summer.
