Tom Anderson leaves

[IDM]

  It was money in both cases, and we have lost two of the best in the division we played in and no transfer fee in the case of Olowu who would have commanded a decent fee.
  We are left with trying to get better probably for less in a higher league and could well want three two right sided and a good left sided with McGrath as back up if we want to make a splash at that level.
  We have been found wanting once more and lost out again with clubs and agents outsmarting us. Penny wise and pound foolish.
 
 

Got any proof to back that up.?

[Pancho Regan]

I'm sorry to see big Tom leave and I'm surprised by his decision to be honest, especially now we know he was offered a two-year deal with a further one-year option.

But we don't know the full reasons behind it and I wish Tom all the best with his new challenge.

He has been a brilliant servant to our club, and what a way to bow out - with a Champion's medal round his neck.

Thanks big fella, and good luck for the future.

[Chris Black come back]

Not ideal but Barrow will be thinking the same. There is a hierarchy and we need to be better at finding those below us, than worrying about players leaving to go elsewhere.

Feels like we are getting a bit better at this. Bailey, Molyneux, McGrath and Sterry are among the better players in the squad. Gotts you would imagine can adapt well to League One. All taken at no cost from lower league sides.

[Usher wide.]

I have a framed, signed, Tom Anderson shirt sat in the garage if anybody’s interested!

I’ll happily take that off your hands if you’re serious Martin!

[pib]

It might well be money. But that doesn’t mean Rovers are scrimping. What we were willing to pay Anderson to be 3rd or 4th choice may well have been less than what Shrewsbury were willing to pay him to presumably be a starter. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

He is probably worth more to Shrewsbury pound and pence wise than he is to us. I’d rather us go and get a quality player in to be a starter than being forced to get someone average because we’ve overpaid for Anderson.

It’s all about balancing the budget. I think Anderson is a legend but the facts are, he’s 31, has had plenty of injury problems, and it’s questionable whether he can be effective in L1 these days.

The club might have fallen into the best decision for everyone concerned here.

[Jonathan]

  It was money in both cases, and we have lost two of the best in the division we played in and no transfer fee in the case of Olowu who would have commanded a decent fee.
  We are left with trying to get better probably for less in a higher league and could well want three two right sided and a good left sided with McGrath as back up if we want to make a splash at that level.
  We have been found wanting once more and lost out again with clubs and agents outsmarting us. Penny wise and pound foolish.
 
 

Got any proof to back that up.?

Selby is teeing us up for Faulkner departing I feel, and will blame money again.

The comment about being outsmarted my agents is odd. The role of the agent is to persuade a club to pay above the worth of the client (player). It appears that’s exactly what we haven’t done here.

I don’t blame Tom for wanting the most he can get from a contract in the later stages of his career. But that doesn’t mean we have to pay it. An expensive 2-3 year commitment for a 31 year old with an injury problem would be a risky move. If we offered a reduced package then I’d understand that more. Ultimately he’s opted to move elsewhere and leaves with all our best wishes. I don’t feel we’ve been outsmarted here.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I'm surprised we offered him that length of contract and surprised actually he's gone elsewhere. We obviously won't get to know why, but playing time and money are two obvious ones.

Criticising constantly is a bit pathetic though. The manager knows the worth of his players and how he wants to use them.  Consistently McCann has used Tom as the backup and I suspect he doesn't want that.

[roversdude]

Probably offered less than he was previously on as a squad player in Grant we trust

[GazLaz]

  It was money in both cases, and we have lost two of the best in the division we played in and no transfer fee in the case of Olowu who would have commanded a decent fee.
  We are left with trying to get better probably for less in a higher league and could well want three two right sided and a good left sided with McGrath as back up if we want to make a splash at that level.
  We have been found wanting once more and lost out again with clubs and agents outsmarting us. Penny wise and pound foolish.
 
 

Got any proof to back that up.?

Selby is teeing us up for Faulkner departing I feel, and will blame money again.

The comment about being outsmarted my agents is odd. The role of the agent is to persuade a club to pay above the worth of the client (player). It appears that’s exactly what we haven’t done here.

I don’t blame Tom for wanting the most he can get from a contract in the later stages of his career. But that doesn’t mean we have to pay it. An expensive 2-3 year commitment for a 31 year old with an injury problem would be a risky move. If we offered a reduced package then I’d understand that more. Ultimately he’s opted to move elsewhere and leaves with all our best wishes. I don’t feel we’ve been outsmarted here.

I think in both cases we have been smart not over paying. Anderson we have spoken about but even Olowu, I’ve spoken to the best in the business at rating and valuing players and they are of the opinion he’s not as good as we tend to think. Paying any more than an ok L1 wage would have been too much.

[The Dav]

I think it’s more about Tom starting games, it’s clear that Grant sees him as a bench player, and maybe at his age he’s not happy to play second fiddle!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We often hear footballers say it's good to feel wanted. It's the same with most people in life generally. When you consider the amount of words written about Olowu, the songs sang about Ooh Ahh, Jay McGrath, Woody wearing a magic hat, if we to be completely honest, what future did we really see for Tom Anderson? Acknowledging his great service and contribution leading to this point, we'd probably say 'limited', when not many would have him as their first choice centre half or a must keep.

We hope of course, McCann has that succession plan in place. We'll know that come the start of pre season training.

[SOD]

Would you want to stay at a club where your own fans give you so much abuse. I don't suppose he is the first nor will he be the last!

[Metalmicky]

Wasn't Tom able to look for a new club due to his contract expiring.  If so, he (his agent) may well have negotiated this a month ago and just waited until his deal expired to reveal it.  He may also have negotiated a wage increase at Shrewsbury due to no fee being involved for his services..?

[Filo]

Wasn't Tom able to look for a new club due to his contract expiring.  If so, he (his agent) may well have negotiated this a month ago and just waited until his deal expired to reveal it.  He may also have negotiated a wage increase at Shrewsbury due to no fee being involved for his services..?

His deal doesn’t expire until 30th June

[GazLaz]

Wasn't Tom able to look for a new club due to his contract expiring.  If so, he (his agent) may well have negotiated this a month ago and just waited until his deal expired to reveal it.  He may also have negotiated a wage increase at Shrewsbury due to no fee being involved for his services..?

His deal doesn’t expire until 30th June

You can speak to clubs before it expires though.

[jmt23]

He mentioned in an interview about this, and the uncertainty he was feeling - he/his agent was definitely looking for a club. I’ve no issue with this, if we couldn’t provide certainty that he will have a contract you have to protect yourself. The same goes for Joe O.

This works both ways as the club that may be gaining a promotion or relegation can shed the players they do not feel can help the cause either through talent or financially.

[Filo]

Wasn't Tom able to look for a new club due to his contract expiring.  If so, he (his agent) may well have negotiated this a month ago and just waited until his deal expired to reveal it.  He may also have negotiated a wage increase at Shrewsbury due to no fee being involved for his services..?

His deal doesn’t expire until 30th June

You can speak to clubs before it expires though.

I never said any different, I know how it works

[In the box]

I have a framed, signed, Tom Anderson shirt sat in the garage if anybody’s interested!

Donate it to the Belle Vue Bar

[idler]

Would you want to stay at a club where your own fans give you so much abuse. I don't suppose he is the first nor will he be the last!
It was a small minority of fans though. It happens at every club unfortunately.

[steve@dcfd]

  It was money in both cases, and we have lost two of the best in the division we played in and no transfer fee in the case of Olowu who would have commanded a decent fee.
  We are left with trying to get better probably for less in a higher league and could well want three two right sided and a good left sided with McGrath as back up if we want to make a splash at that level.
  We have been found wanting once more and lost out again with clubs and agents outsmarting us. Penny wise and pound foolish.
 
 

We know we renegotiated with Joe before he left.
We gave Tom his contract last week he was offered Shrewsburys contract on Monday. Which he had to discuss he says. Now we don’t know whether there was any further discussions with us. Unless our offer was lower (no proof) that negotiations would not have made a difference.
After all that we have to replace two centre halves with quality at league 1 level which may take longer than Grant wanted.

[StocksArmy]

In my opinion a club legend. Anybody who commits their body and puts their head where it hurts like he has each week will do for me. And if we don’t recruit someone with that same attitude and commitment I feel we will miss him more than we know. Big loss to the dressing room also. Best of luck to Tom, Shrews have themselves one of the best centre halves in League Two. Wouldn’t be surprised if he captains them next season.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Proper mester. Never shirked a challenge. Superb when it mattered. Rovers legend. Best of luck for the future big lad.

[drfchound]

Wasn't Tom able to look for a new club due to his contract expiring.  If so, he (his agent) may well have negotiated this a month ago and just waited until his deal expired to reveal it.  He may also have negotiated a wage increase at Shrewsbury due to no fee being involved for his services..?

His deal doesn’t expire until 30th June

You can speak to clubs before it expires though.

I never said any different, I know how it works

 

[selby]

  Why would Anderson stay, he was offered one year and a years option most likely to be a bench warmer in a higher league on less money than he has been used to and most likely unless we got relegated next year the option not taken up.
  Contrast that with two years fixed contract where he will play games and a years option potentially two years on football wages and a potential third year. At 31 I would say that's a no brainer and the best of luck to the lad.
  Olowu, did teams come in for him in January when his stock was high? even in division1 there are a number of teams that will pay a lot more than us, and he has obviously had a conversation with a team that pay higher wages than ourselves, turning down a second offer, and that shows we tried to get away with it in the first place offering less than we were prepared to go to keep him.
  Contract talks in football always  make me think of spivs trying to skank spivs.
  Now we are in the position of looking for two players probably three to play in a higher division and whoever they are their agents will come through the door  thinking we are desperate and there to be taken.

[Alan Southstand]

I thought he was offered 2 years + option of 1 year?

[Jonathan]

I thought he was offered 2 years + option of 1 year?

He was according to the club.

[Surrey Rover]

https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2025/may/16/anderson-to-leave-rovers-after-rejecting-new-deal/

Selby?

[Nudga]

I've got a feeling Selby has been burned by the club recently. 

[knockers]

Mickey Walker has probably shagged his dog and got it pupped!

[IDM]

  Why would Anderson stay, he was offered one year and a years option most likely to be a bench warmer in a higher league on less money than he has been used to and most likely unless we got relegated next year the option not taken up.
  Contrast that with two years fixed contract where he will play games and a years option potentially two years on football wages and a potential third year. At 31 I would say that's a no brainer and the best of luck to the lad.
  Olowu, did teams come in for him in January when his stock was high? even in division1 there are a number of teams that will pay a lot more than us, and he has obviously had a conversation with a team that pay higher wages than ourselves, turning down a second offer, and that shows we tried to get away with it in the first place offering less than we were prepared to go to keep him.
  Contract talks in football always  make me think of spivs trying to skank spivs.
  Now we are in the position of looking for two players probably three to play in a higher division and whoever they are their agents will come through the door  thinking we are desperate and there to be taken.

Desperate.?  In the middle of May.?

Pull the other one. 

For someone who gives the appearance of being in the know, you quote our offer to Anderson as a year short of what was published the other day.

You’re either a WUM or aren’t being fed the whole story by your “source”

Please could you come clean with how you know what you (claim to) know.?

As John Major once said, put up or shut up.