Faulkner??

[Ryaldinhio]

If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.

It should send alarms bells out through the academy!

At his age I would have jumped at minimum wage to be playing football. If he drops out of the EFL it can be a long way back, especially if he ends up with part time and a job to fund a living then its almost no way back. As someone's previous post there are a lot of players at the top end of semi pro because they can earn more there than as a pro. I hope he signs and gets a solid loan at higher level, Maybe Scunny as mentioned above.

[Ryaldinhio]

This is verging into politics but my god this country is set up to favour the older. Per person the gov spend way more on that age bracket compared to our kids. And we wonder why there a productivity issue!

The country is set up for those that have never put into the pot so let's not go down that route.

[Filo]

What price for opportunity?  Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?

If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.

The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.

Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.

What about getting rid of the over 60's season ticket prices....and make them pay full price. That might fund it!

A 66 year old paying less for a ticket than a 25 year old in this day and age is pretty wild

OAP season tickets start at the age of 60 for the Rovers. Most are probably in full time employment. And most will earn more than 25 year olds.

Thats been changed to 65, only existing season ticket holders over 60 now get it at that age

[johnny rovers]

What price for opportunity?  Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?

If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.

The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.

Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.

What about getting rid of the over 60's season ticket prices....and make them pay full price. That might fund it!

A 66 year old paying less for a ticket than a 25 year old in this day and age is pretty wild

OAP season tickets start at the age of 60 for the Rovers. Most are probably in full time employment. And most will earn more than 25 year olds.

Thats been changed to 65, only existing season ticket holders over 60 now get it at that age

Cheers for the update!

[sedwardsdrfc]

If neither Faulkner or Flint are going to develop for us then we might as well sack off the youth academy, a lot of money for no return on investment.

I’ve thought this a few times over the years. There must be some big community benefits to the youth teams which we can’t really quantify.

But purely on players to 1st team we’d almost certainly be better just having a U23 side made up of players who leave prem/championship academies in their late teens.

We have made money when bigger clubs take our top prospects at a young age which shouldn’t be forgotten

[Ryaldinhio]

If neither Faulkner or Flint are going to develop for us then we might as well sack off the youth academy, a lot of money for no return on investment.

I’ve thought this a few times over the years. There must be some big community benefits to the youth teams which we can’t really quantify.

But purely on players to 1st team we’d almost certainly be better just having a U23 side made up of players who leave prem/championship academies in their late teens.

We have made money when bigger clubs take our top prospects at a young age which shouldn’t be forgotten

I was going to mention we got money for a few young ones last season.

[Bessie Red]

If I was him, I'd leave. Although I do know from several sources close to him, he wants to stay.....but the contract he has been offered is pathetic. Almost national living wage.

It should send alarms bells out through the academy!

National living wage is £12.21/hr so say he's been offered £13.00, this would mean at 21 he would be on £27k. That is more than decent for a lad  of his age doing the thing he loves with the potential to earn much more if he improves & gets a move to a club higher up the pyramid. He would be mad not to sign it.

[5minstogo]

If we've offered a low wage it's purely to enable us to get a development fee for any onward contract. My feeling is Bobby should probably leave to play football. If he drops down he's good enough and smart enough to bounce back.

[drfchound]

This is verging into politics but my god this country is set up to favour the older. Per person the gov spend way more on that age bracket compared to our kids. And we wonder why there a productivity issue!

You are Keir Starmer in disguise and I claim my £5.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

What price for opportunity?  Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?

If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.

The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.

Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.

On a financial point of view is there much point? I do wonder if it would ever pay back the investment.

[Ryaldinhio]

What price for opportunity?  Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?

If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.

The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.

Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.

On a financial point of view is there much point? I do wonder if it would ever pay back the investment.

Max Watters? Wasn't he reported to go for £1m? Surely that would fund the development squad for a few seasons atleast?

Think I agree with an earlier post that if we don't have a development squad the youth set up is maybe not productive. If we had the development squad players like Faulkner could have been playing games without moving out on loan so that when we needed some bodies for a short stint he would have been available for opportunities in the first team. By moving lads out on short term loans we are limiting both their opportunities and their availability to help when needed therefore reducing their value to the squad.

[ForsolongaRover]

Was not Watters recruited from a non league club in Kent? Having failed to impress either Fergie, who recruited him and possibly his successor he was released and went to Crawley. It was Crawley that netted the £1m when they sold him to Cardiff, was it not? He was never even an academy player as such was he?

[Ryaldinhio]

Was not Watters recruited from a non league club in Kent? Having failed to impress either Fergie, who recruited him and possibly his successor he was released and went to Crawley. It was Crawley that netted the £1m when they sold him to Cardiff, was it not? He was never even an academy player as such was he?

Think you might be right there

[Usher wide.]

Playing for Barnsley in the Championship now.

Max not Bobby.

[roversdude]

Playing for Barnsley in the Championship now.

Max not Bobby.

Did Barnsley get promoted

[selby]

 Max Watters was one of five players that were offered a contract at the end of their academy days and in a good team that had just won the league that season and had a run in the Youth cup.
  At the start of the next season they were not contacted to sign anything and when to go in training, one phoned the manager and was just told he didn't want any of them and he had scotched their contract offer without contacting them, leaving them little time to get fixed up anywhere else.
  They ended up at clubs like Rossington, Watters played in a preseason game against Crawley who signed him, he got lucky.
  The manager was Darren Moore, such a nice fella.
Very few lower league clubs use the whole grants they get for academies solely on the academy itself,
  Norwich have taken their academy to another level advertising
On TV holiday breaks for teams offering accommodation,  coaching, and arranging games against other sides, turning it into a football get away holiday.
  Accrington Stanley have withdrawn from the youth league this coming season.

[ravenrover]

Why not stop all concessions while you're at it JR?
And it's now 65 for OAPs

[johnny rovers]

Why not stop all concessions while you're at it JR?
And it's now 65 for OAPs

It was a joke between myself and Alan, nothing more! We go back years!

Long live the concessions!!

[Usher wide.]

Playing for Barnsley in the Championship now.

Max not Bobby.

Did Barnsley get promoted

Correction. League 1 of course.

Slip of the pen roversdude!

See you next season Max.

[Alan Southstand]

Why not stop all concessions while you're at it JR?
And it's now 65 for OAPs

It was a joke between myself and Alan, nothing more! We go back years!

Long live the concessions!!

Why not stop all concessions while you're at it JR?
And it's now 65 for OAPs

It was a joke between myself and Alan, nothing more! We go back years!

Long live the concessions!!

I’m glad you’ve clarified that. I can stop my gym ‘neck wringing’ exercises!

[ForsolongaRover]

Mqax Watters was one of five playters that were offered a contract at the end of their academy days and in a good team that had just won the league that season and had a run in the Youth cup.
  At the start of the next season they were not contacted to sign anything and whgen to go in training, one phoned the manager and was just told he didn't want any of them and he had scotched their contract offer without contacting them, leaving them little time to get fixed up anywhere else.
  They ended up at clubs like Rossington Watters played in a preseason game against Crawley who signed him, he got lucky.
  The manager was Darren Moore, such a nice fella.
Very few lower league clubs use the whole grants they get for academies solely on the academy itself,
  Norwich have taken their academy to another level advertising
On TV holiday breaks for teams offering accommodation,  coaching, and arranging games against other sides, turning it into a football get away holiday.
  Accrington Stanley have withdrawn from the youth league this coming season.

Thanks Selby. He was 19 when he signed the 2 year deal with us and I don’t remember him being classified as an “Academy” player at the time, but obviously I respect your knowledge.The whole situation with him was enigmatic in a sense, because if it is appropriate to give the academy credit for his development, the manager at the time did not recognise, capitalise, or reward his talent, and it was Crawley that reaped the benefit. It is ironic that the one who made good, slipped through our fingers.

[waldron40]

Was not Watters recruited from a non league club in Kent? Having failed to impress either Fergie, who recruited him and possibly his successor he was released and went to Crawley. It was Crawley that netted the £1m when they sold him to Cardiff, was it not? He was never even an academy player as such was he?

Max Watters signed a 2 year contract with Rovers on 22 May 18, having previously been with Ashford United.
His first season he went on short term loans to Grantham and Gainsborough.
His second season he went on loan to Mickleover, then was a regular on the Rovers bench from late Oct 2019 to Feb 2020, when he went on loan to Maidstone.
He was released at the end of that season.

[Draytonian III]

What price for opportunity?  Do you take the money at a low non league side with less room for growth or knuckle down at a pro league one side with a point to prove?

If I backed myself I'd be going the EFL route. If he is that highly rated as some make out another EFL side will take a punt on him at higher wages of course.

The club has a budget, ultimately I wouldn't spend much on him now. An unpopular opinion with some no doubt but I dont think we have the budget to keep many development players.

Good point, bfyp, and there has to be something done at the Club, if we’re to have any hopes of further developing good young players. It really is crying out for a separate budget for a development squad.
This could come from another new ‘entity’ on the Board, who is prepared to put a significant investment for that very purpose. We can’t expect Mr Bramall to keep piling money in for everything, after all.
GM has mentioned this very topic in one of his recent press interviews and I’m sure the Club like the idea, but liking it and funding it are two very different things.

What about getting rid of the over 60's season ticket prices....and make them pay full price. That might fund it!

A 66 year old paying less for a ticket than a 25 year old in this day and age is pretty wild

OAP season tickets start at the age of 60 for the Rovers. Most are probably in full time employment. And most will earn more than 25 year olds.

Those like myself who are over 60 but not 65 and had a season ticket last season still get a senior ticket, if not you don’t qualify until you’re 65

[LincsRover]

Yeah, perfect timing for me - I was 60 in July so got a senior ST last season and continue to get one provided I keep buying a ST - which, of course, I will as I have done for the last 25 years! 

[steve@dcfd]

I hope there will be an agreement between the club and Bobby what ever the financial payments are as we don’t know officially.
Will Flint who played in NLN last season is a contracted player.
I accept Bobby as been here longer but for a few games early on as not been in our team for League football. The highest standard he’s played over the last two years was in Ireland 4 games and NLN.

[selby]

  ForsolongaRover, your right but was the last season we had a u21s side.

[selby]

  I was told last night that now Anderson has left, Yes I know he is still contracted really, Bobby is our longest serving player at least till a decision is made. if true it shocked me.

[steve@dcfd]

Mqax Watters was one of five playters that were offered a contract at the end of their academy days and in a good team that had just won the league that season and had a run in the Youth cup.
  At the start of the next season they were not contacted to sign anything and whgen to go in training, one phoned the manager and was just told he didn't want any of them and he had scotched their contract offer without contacting them, leaving them little time to get fixed up anywhere else.
  They ended up at clubs like Rossington Watters played in a preseason game against Crawley who signed him, he got lucky.
  The manager was Darren Moore, such a nice fella.
Very few lower league clubs use the whole grants they get for academies solely on the academy itself,
  Norwich have taken their academy to another level advertising
On TV holiday breaks for teams offering accommodation,  coaching, and arranging games against other sides, turning it into a football get away holiday.
  Accrington Stanley have withdrawn from the youth league this coming season.

Thanks Selby. He was 19 when he signed the 2 year deal with us and I don’t remember him being classified as an “Academy” player at the time, but obviously I respect your knowledge.The whole situation with him was enigmatic in a sense, because if it is appropriate to give the academy credit for his development, the manager at the time did not recognise, capitalise, or reward his talent, and it was Crawley that reaped the benefit. It is ironic that the one who made good, slipped through our fingers.

Let’s not make Watters out to be the player he never was he had two good games at U21 level both with Trialist who better than what we had next to him. He wasn’t even the leading goal scorer at that level and he hardly scored in his loans. He wasn’t a prolific player or scorer. I would suggest a vast majority of Rovers fans didn’t know who he was. Whether he should have been released the way he was along with others is debatable. He had on good season having been picked up by Crawley scored 13. Since then for 1million he’s been bang average at best having the last four seasons in league 1.
Let’s not make him the player he isn’t what we can say. None of the rest of our young players “since” have achieved playing regularly in league 2 or league 1. Best we have achieved is Bobby and Will NLN.

[CheeseToastie]

Best for both parties if he doesn't sign a new deal

[keith79]

Best for both parties if he doesn't sign a new deal

So you don't rate him?