Sharp come and get me plea?

[Jonathan]

Alright so it might not have been quite as explicit as a 'come and get me' plea, but I've just read another very positive article in the Yorkshire Sport where Billy speaks about his time at the club.

He regularly refers to the Rovers as \"we,\" and he heaps praise on Sean O'Driscoll, saying he has given him back his self belief and improved him as a player. Speaking of the system he was deployed in, he says;

\"I actually played up front on my own for a few games where you are not out on the wing a lot and you are playing just down the middle. I just enjoy playing that way and I did get a lot of support as we've got midfielders who all make forward runs. We've got really good players in the midfield who could probably get into any team in the Championship - and it was brilliant playing with them and I really enjoyed it and it helped me.

Players like Jonny Oster and Coppinger have been absolutely brilliant - and they are two of the best players on the ball who I have played with.\"

He goes on to nominate his first goal for the club against Scunny, his winner against Sheffield Wednesday, and the games against Bristol as some of his highlights, and rounds of the interview by saying;

\"We were close to the play offs, despite having a lot of injuries to players who have come in, like myself. And I don't see why the club can't push on next year.\"

One thing that is clear is that he was really happy here and really enjoyed his time. I just hope we can offer something that is in the right ballpark (to club and player) to at least give ourselves a chance of making the move permanent. He could go on to make millions for the club if he lives up to his potential, which I'm sure he would. Of course it's possible that he could receive an offer many times above ours which would make it difficult/impossible, but we have to take a chance to hit the right ballpark at least to give ourselves a chance. The risk is minimal in so far as we've already seen the level of success he can achieve, and the morale boost he would give to the fans, players, management and boardroom.

No doubt he would be by far the most costly player in the history of the club, but if ever anyone has proved they are worth that step, then it has to be Sharp.

And while we're at it, extended contracts for his mates Coppinger and Oster would be more than welcome!

[Wellred]

I think Sheffield Utd could well be holding out to see if they get a better offer for Billy.
I certainly wouldn't rule him out of being in a rovers shirt next year though.

[Nudga]

My gaffer knows BS family quite well and says that Billy isn't money driven what so ever, he just wants to and loves to play football. He is also very close to his family so moving away from the region isn't an option. So, on the back of tat i'd say we are in a very good position to sign him.

[grayx]

Sharp obviously enjoyed his time here. If money isn't the \"be all & end all\" to him,then wages might not be such a big issue. That leaves us with the transfer fee as the main stumbling block. Nobody knows for sure what our offer was that was rejected,but I can't see it taking much more than 1 million to get him. That surely would be a sound investment. If Billy continued to play & score for us like he did last season then his value could easily double. If a Premiership club then came in for him, I for one wouldn't begrudge him going. We just need to make sure he's on at least a 3 year contract.

[wilts rover]

Jonathan wrote:

No doubt he would be by far the most costly player in the history of the club

apropos of nothing - would Billy Sharp cost more than the rest of the team put together? Hayter £300k - Stock £200k, rest of em not much from memory?

[Dutch Uncle]

I think he would Wilts

Hayter 200K
Stock 150K
O'Connor 130K
Webster 100K(?)
Shiels 50K(?)
Martis 50K(?)
Copps 30K
Brooker??

Looks around 700K, certainly less than 1M

[Red Wizard]

Nudga wrote:

My gaffer knows BS family quite well and says that Billy isn't money driven what so ever, he just wants to and loves to play football. He is also very close to his family so moving away from the region isn't an option. So, on the back of tat i'd say we are in a very good position to sign him.

I said the same thing last week and got shot down for saying he isn't driven by money. I agree with all you have said though and i don't think it will be long till he is in a Rovers shirt.

[Nudga]

Red Wizard wrote:

Nudga wrote:

My gaffer knows BS family quite well and says that Billy isn't money driven what so ever, he just wants to and loves to play football. He is also very close to his family so moving away from the region isn't an option. So, on the back of tat i'd say we are in a very good position to sign him.

I said the same thing last week and got shot down for saying he isn't driven by money. I agree with all you have said though and i don't think it will be long till he is in a Rovers shirt.

Apparently his mum and dad wouldn't allow him to get big headed about money, they keep him well grounded and he doesn't forget his roots.

[Barmby Rover]

Strange, I never imagined Billy doing a Duncan Norville impression, \" Chase me, chase me!\" but if he wants to play football with a great midfield, he knows where to come.

[Snods Shinpad 2]

I think Jonathan covered everything, but here it is anyway...

*click on image to enlarge, then click again

[CusworthRovers]

This is a very positive article. Whatever Billy's value on life in general is.............will be one thing, he will no doubt have an agent who will think different.

Having little value of money over happiness is all well and good, but there is also the clinically insane factor of nobody is going to take a massive drop in wages to make themselves happy. I'm sure his beloved parents would tan his arse if he went from say 12k a week to 7k per week.

Rovers will have to push the boat out on wages and smash our structure IMO. I do believe they will do this and get round it with bonus's.

Rovers will have to obviously smash our transfer budget, and again I just speculate, but I feel we would get him for 800k now. If nobody is showing an interest we may get him for 700-600, I would lay good odds that the fee will be UNDISCLOSED, as it will suit both parties. I'd like to think Billy and his agent will be letting Donny know of outside interest. I do feel Donny are in control of this and hold the better cards. The only negative I see, is a mass bidding war between 3-4 clubs, and as said Donny will know if this is likely to happen or happening.

[bobjimwilly]

I think Mills was our highest signing fee, wasn't he? £300K?

[jw2]

Yeah he was.
I may be wrong but didnt hayter cost 300k too.  

Not sure on hayter though.

[DonnyOsmond]

jw2 wrote:

Yeah he was.
I may be wrong but didnt hayter cost 300k too.  

Not sure on hayter though.

Nah, Hayter was £200K. Dutch Uncle's spot on with those fees at the top of the page.

[FuzzyDuck]

Positive words indeed!

Although I'd like Billy to sign as much as any Rovers' fan, I think comments like \"we should smash our wage structure\" are irresponsible.  Do it for Billy and there will be other senior players who will demand the same or leave us.  It's exactly this kind of approach that has put Palace, Southend, Portsmouth and Hull where they are today,

I'm also not so sure about the cut in wages being unwise for Billy to risk.  He is 24 and so has probably 6 further years at the top.  With Rovers he is at a club where he KNOWS he can score goals and be a contender for the golden boot.  If he does that for 1-2 seasons, what happens to  his price tag?  Let's say the wage cut he needs to take is £5k per week.  If, in two years he gains a move giving him a wage increase of £10k per week, he's made the difference in wages back in 1 season.

Or he could take a risk and move to a club to end up sat on the bench.  Something that won't happen at the Rovers, and he knows it!

[CusworthRovers]

Personally, I don't think we should sign players with a view of forecasting their future value off the pitch. That could massively backfire for many a reason. Having to sell them is fine and often unavoidable, but for me, they are signed for the long term good of DRFC, on the pitch first and foremost. Anything else is an aside.

Again opinions only, but 5k (as an example) a week drop is too big imo. To then rely on saying 'your value will rise in the near future and then able to recoup that loss' is one hell of a gamble. What about form of the individual, form of the team, injuries, club get relegated, club get in a mess.

As for sitting on the bench and taking the cash, well cash in the pocket there and then, is no gamble at all.

Like I said, I feel the cash gap needs to be bridged somehow to make it smaller......be that by signing on fee, bonuses, wages or whatever. I also feel we will do it.

For the record, I never said wage structure, I said structure of payments to players, which I meant bonuses, signing on fees. Also for the record, I have argued on here in the past about the dangers of paying Billy, let's say 10k per week, and then Messers Oster, Stock, Copps, Woods, Jimmy et al rightly wanting a piece of the action in terms of parity