What is Olowu’s level?

[ncRover]

I previously thought we had to get promoted to keep him, but after last night I think he could go straight in to a Championship side.

If he was under contract could we have demanded £1m+?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I previously thought we had to get promoted to keep him, but after last night I think he could go straight in to a Championship side.

If he was under contract could we have demanded £1m+?

Depends what's in his contract.

[ChrisBx]

I previously thought we had to get promoted to keep him, but after last night I think he could go straight in to a Championship side.

If he was under contract could we have demanded £1m+?

Depends what's in his contract.

Nothing beyond June as it stands.

[GazLaz]

I said a while ago he would miss out L1 in his progression. I’ll stick by that. Not sure people pay £1m for players that are coming out of L2. I think £500k with sell ons/ potential extras would have been fair.

Hopefully we get promoted and he stays. We do need to have a structure in place that doesn’t allow managers (that are not likely to be here in 2 years) let valuable assets contracts run out that they completely misjudge the ability of.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I previously thought we had to get promoted to keep him, but after last night I think he could go straight in to a Championship side.

If he was under contract could we have demanded £1m+?

Depends what's in his contract.

Nothing beyond June as it stands.

That's true but the negotiations on a new contract will include this sort of stuff. I doubt very much, as GazLaz suggests, they (agent and player) wouldn't agree to a high release clause which might be restrictive to his movement. If we try to insist on £1m min fee, then he's more likely to walk away. There's a reasonable balance to be had that works both ways.

[GazLaz]

There’s a real benefit to him moving on a free in the summer though. More competition from clubs when there is no fee involved which means better competition with wages. Even if we go up I think there is a decent chance he leaves if a Champ club or real big club in L1 comes in for him.

[Prez]

There’s a real benefit to him moving on a free in the summer though. More competition from clubs when there is no fee involved which means better competition with wages. Even if we go up I think there is a decent chance he leaves if a Champ club or real big club in L1 comes in for him.

I agree, I think he will move on in the summer even if we go up. He will be on the radar of a lot of clubs now, like Luke (thankfully under contract though)

Not a chance Olowu will stay if we miss out on promotion. We really must get promotion this season.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Hand up from me. The way he was 2 years ago, I never saw him making it at this level, nevermind higher. But he's developed into a magnificent defender. Superb performance last night. Mateta  got nothing out of him. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see him at a decent Championship club in the summer.

[IDM]

Last year when a few 2 year contracts were signed was one offered to Olowu? If so and he didn't sign then he's hardly likely to stay, he might have been judged not worthy of a longer contract when others were though

Wild speculation.??

[DonnyBazR0ver]

There’s a real benefit to him moving on a free in the summer though. More competition from clubs when there is no fee involved which means better competition with wages. Even if we go up I think there is a decent chance he leaves if a Champ club or real big club in L1 comes in for him.

I agree, I think he will move on in the summer even if we go up. He will be on the radar of a lot of clubs now, like Luke (thankfully under contract though)

Not a chance Olowu will stay if we miss out on promotion. We really must get promotion this season.

We thought the same about Moly last year. It surprised me he re-signed for another crack at promotion so, there's no reason to believe Olowu wouldn't do the same, obviously with a new contract being favourable to him whilst protecting the interests of the club.  His reps would know they would be in the best negotiating position now, rather than even considering an extension to a two year contract 12 months in.

We know these things can go either way but Marquis, Whiteman and Molyneux all re-signed after they could have walked so give the club some credit for that.

[GazLaz]

Last year when a few 2 year contracts were signed was one offered to Olowu? If so and he didn't sign then he's hardly likely to stay, he might have been judged not worthy of a longer contract when others were though

Didn’t get offered one.

[Ian Nimmo]

Definitely would be championship level.
However you would have to take his performances against premier league teams into account, last night he was tremendous.
Last year when he wasn’t really a regular, he controlled the Everton strikers and was very unlucky to have been beaten for the Beko goal.
We are lucking at him gaining control of multi million pound strikers, therefore would not be surprised if a top half championship club came sniffing.

[TheFunk]

Has it been confirmed anywhere that we don't have an option on Olowu. Grant has said that we do on some of the players who are out of contract in the summer.

[graingrover]

His level of performance makes him a valid free signing for a Championship club which is now our problem. He deflected the question of contract renewal onto his agent -representative.
We got Whiteman to sign an extension before he signed for Preston to create a win-win situation.

[sedwardsdrfc]

I said a while ago he would miss out L1 in his progression. I’ll stick by that. Not sure people pay £1m for players that are coming out of L2. I think £500k with sell ons/ potential extras would have been fair.

Hopefully we get promoted and he stays. We do need to have a structure in place that doesn’t allow managers (that are not likely to be here in 2 years) let valuable assets contracts run out that they completely misjudge the ability of.

Agree with the structure and in fairness we’ve got better at offering contracts to better performers. We can’t hope to to somewhat self sustaining without getting fees when players leave.

Along with not letting managers let assets contracts run down I’d say we can’t be at their whim in wanting replacing or stunting our own player’s development by signing kids on loan. At some point we’ve to prioritise our own players.

[selby]

  He will go for free from us at the end of the season or his agent has not done a job for him, or himself.

[Bills view]

I know it's easy in hindsight but some iffy new contracts, improved contracts or contract extensions have been handed out relatively recently. Some of whom would have little or no sell on value.

Not all but some highly questionable ones.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

He's improved immensely, no doubt. I was all for getting rid 12 months ago, he continually lacked concentration and my patience was running out. He's been superb this season on the whole. Whether he can make it above league 1 I don't know but he can certainly make that level.

I wouldn't have given him a contract extension last summer so I can see why they didn't.  Win some you lose some. All we need is him to perform until summer.  Never know he may stay too.

[Bessie Red]

How do we know that a Contract has not already been agreed in principle and not yet been signed. GM stated in an interview recently that contract negotiations are going on in the background but the main focus of all players & staff at the moment is on achieving the goal of promotion.

[GazLaz]

How do we know that a Contract has not already been agreed in principle and not yet been signed. GM stated in an interview recently that contract negotiations are going on in the background but the main focus of all players & staff at the moment is on achieving the goal of promotion.

Because his agent is putting stories out there about clubs being interest to drum up interest. No coincidence that it’s leaked the day after he plays well, against a Prem club, live on TV!

[IDM]

But equally that could be used to get him a better deal here.?

None of us really know what’s going on behind the scenes at the club, do we.?  Unless you work there or are an agent.!!

[keith79]

He's a championship player. he has everything. Let's hope he loves it here and wants to stay 

[selby]

  He will go for the money. and the agent will get some of what we would have got as a transfer fee for his part of the deal, it's his job.

[Bessie Red]

How do we know that a Contract has not already been agreed in principle and not yet been signed. GM stated in an interview recently that contract negotiations are going on in the background but the main focus of all players & staff at the moment is on achieving the goal of promotion.

Because his agent is putting stories out there about clubs being interest to drum up interest. No coincidence that it’s leaked the day after he plays well, against a Prem club, live on TV!

I know you have a good knowledge about how footie works but is your claim, that his agent is putting stories out, factual or just your opinion?

[selby]

  He doesn't need to put stories out, but will, although clubs already know the situation and are following him.

[Move DRFC]

Olowu has been good for a while now. Was superb at the end of last season too.

How did we give a total of 4 years to Close and Westbrooke but didn't think to offer Olowu anything. I know it's hindsight but I think most of us thought the Close and Westbrooke ones were dumb at the time.

As for Olowu, ended the season well, clearly had talent, only 24/25. It's a really bad error from the decision makers on this one.

[Ryaldinhio]

Why are people listening to media? There is so much shi*e out there.

I would love him to sign, this feels like Moly last year, people were writing him off as gone but still here....but hopefully we will be in L1 before the final negotiations.

I genuinly believe if we get promoted he will stay to be part of it, and not just a deal signed to get the club some money.

Let's just enjoy the next 16 games he is contracted for and then we can see.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Why are people listening to media? There is so much shi*e out there.

I would love him to sign, this feels like Moly last year, people were writing him off as gone but still here....but hopefully we will be in L1 before the final negotiations.

I genuinly believe if we get promoted he will stay to be part of it, and not just a deal signed to get the club some money.

Let's just enjoy the next 16 games he is contracted for and then we can see.

That's right. There's little point sweating over this and being distracted from the job in hand.

Just singing his name is the best support we can give.

[Stocksbridge Owl]

I’ve heard from a fairly reliable source that Derby and Hull are interested in Joseph Olowu.

[jmt23]

The lad had obvious higher quality from the very beginning, I said to my lad he looks levels above what we have (admittedly we were in a poor state then) if you couldn’t see that I’m not sure you’ve played the game before, or have the ability to make any judgements.

I have watched and listened to fans, managers who have consistently (what I perceive to) almost  disregard him, Grant for instance dropped him in favour of Tom during our great run last year, after Tom came on for 10 mins against Barrow, and played admittedly very well, but Joe was consistent for all of that run (and more) and was dropped from that point - that wouldn’t sit well with me as a person or player. I would have in the back of my mind that “no matter how well I play, he didn’t fancy me and looked to swap at the first opportunity”

A great player, a decent man (based on what I hear and read) a real shame for us if he leaves and especially if that is for free. Should be the captain.