Olowu

[selby]

  If they get the Olowu of last season they have got a bargain, if they get the Olowu of the previous seasons he was here they will pull their hair out.

[drfchound]

Money talks  as per usual but we’ve done it to other clubs to our benefit , onwards and upwards for us we’ve lost better players in summers gone by and the grass isn’t always greener. Looking forward to Luke tearing him a new one next season

This is how I see it. Harry Clifton had been at Grimsby for the best part of a decade when a club with better chances of promotion came along and offered him a big pay rise and I don’t remember seeing any complaints then. How is this any different?

Clifton hadn’t just won the league

Would you turn down a pay rise worth tens thousands of pounds a year because of loyalty you felt towards your work colleagues?
A pay rise that gave you a higher chance of earning a further pay rise sooner too.

Exactly this.
Footballers come and go.
He was good for us and always gave his best but if he can get himself a good pay rise, good luck to him.
We would all do the same.
Looking at some of the comments on here there could be some fans who will boo him when he comes to the Eco to play against us.

[KingKendrick]

Money talks  as per usual but we’ve done it to other clubs to our benefit , onwards and upwards for us we’ve lost better players in summers gone by and the grass isn’t always greener. Looking forward to Luke tearing him a new one next season

This is how I see it. Harry Clifton had been at Grimsby for the best part of a decade when a club with better chances of promotion came along and offered him a big pay rise and I don’t remember seeing any complaints then. How is this any different?

Clifton hadn’t just won the league

Would you turn down a pay rise worth tens thousands of pounds a year because of loyalty you felt towards your work colleagues?
A pay rise that gave you a higher chance of earning a further pay rise sooner too.

Exactly people seem to forget football is a short career. He doesn’t owe us anything. Over the years he has improved no end and also was a great guy off the pitch. Always engaged with the fans especially over the last 12 months. Wish him all the best.

[IDM]

I don’t see why some are disappointed with this move.

He’d already left, probably safe in the knowledge he’s get another offer.

So what.?

[danumdon]

You would think that everyone who's had a bit of a whinge about this would be over it by now, Joe was "gone" before his "injury" last season.

Good player for us, did his best and was a nice bloke to boot, we should all wish him well in his new venture, he doesn't owe us anything and we all move on.

Thanks for your service Joe.

[Jonathan]

Stockport appear to be a really well run club with the kind of transfer strategy that I’d like us to aspire to. They seem to pick up lots of good players that will appreciate in value. Not a bad move for Olowu. And we move on.

[Lazar]

Some very bitter and frankly deluded responses on show here.

Stockport have a much better chance of promotion than us and will be offering a considerably better pay packet. Strange to think you wouldn’t make the jump if you were him.

[In the box]

$$$$$

Good for him!

I agree but what does it say about our ambitions if quality players who end up at rival League clubs . Was Olowu offered a decent deal or just a typical take it or leave it one…. He could have been our next Ben Whitman with his growing reputation and commanded a decent fee !!

[sedwardsdrfc]

$$$$$

Good for him!

I agree but what does it say about our ambitions if quality players who end up at rival League clubs . Was Olowu offered a decent deal or just a typical take it or leave it one…. He could have been our next Ben Whitman with his growing reputation and commanded a decent fee !!

Stockport are spending at an unsustainable level. We shouldn’t jump to join them in that.

The mistake we made wasn’t getting him signed up last season. We might have tried and he said no but that was the opportunity to avoid this or at least get some cash for him. This summer the ship has sailed.

[coventryrover]

It's a job.    If you get offered more you have to think about it.

Just feel a tad wierd as it's a northern team but it is what it is.

Some need to grow up

[Spilsby Red]

As I said before, thanks. But no longer our player anymore.  We move on as we have done when players left before.

[ncRover]

$$$$$

Good for him!

I agree but what does it say about our ambitions if quality players who end up at rival League clubs . Was Olowu offered a decent deal or just a typical take it or leave it one…. He could have been our next Ben Whitman with his growing reputation and commanded a decent fee !!

I’m not sure what you’re expecting with our wage structure.
We won’t be anywhere near Stockport at present. I don’t mean that in a negative way.
I’ll be very happy with mid table after looking at the business done across the league so far.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

$$$$$

Good for him!

I agree but what does it say about our ambitions if quality players who end up at rival League clubs . Was Olowu offered a decent deal or just a typical take it or leave it one…. He could have been our next Ben Whitman with his growing reputation and commanded a decent fee !!

Olowu signed up for more in 2023. Molyneux signed up for more last season as did Whiteman and Marquis when all were subject to interest. You can't force players to sign contracts even if the manager/club make offers in line with their worth to the club. Players and their agents will exercise their right to keep their options open if they think the timee right to move on. Some you win, some you lose. 

[Usher wide.]

Stockport County.

You’ve gone for the money Joe, not the ambition to grow with a ‘better club’.

A ‘quick financial fix’. Let’s see where both clubs finish this season. We’ll maybe cross swords in the play offs, if we miss out on automatic promotion.

Ah well, enjoy the rest of your career.

Stockport County…jeez.

[BobG]

Christ Almighty...What a load of jealous unthinking tosh.

BobG

[StocksArmy]

Good luck to him. Many on here falling into the pre season trap of assuming that the club who spends the most will p!ss promotion before a ball is kicked. McCann has made it clear he’s not here to make up the numbers but, the mentality of some posters would suggest it’s impossible because we aren’t throwing huge amounts of cash around. I think let’s just wait and see where we are at when we are finished assembling our squad. GM has also said we have players who will suit League One better than League Two so we will see. Sod Stockport and their bank balance.

[Usher wide.]

Christ Almighty...What a load of jealous unthinking tosh.

BobG

Jealous of who Bob?

Just happen to think Joe has put £ before achievements.

Let’s see how it pans out eh?

[BobG]

So you don't believe pounds and career are important to individuals then?

Interesting view point.

BobG

[Ryaldinhio]

People forget that football is fixed term contracts because there isn't a lot of that in the 'normal' world. But DRFC offered Joe a fixed term contract 2/4 yrs ago that suited the club, not the player. It suited the player enough such that he signed. Recently they offered him a renewal that wasn't suited to the player so he didn't sign - BUT he completed his contractual obligation- he owes us nothing more.

To address a few points on here paraphrased:

"Would you turn down more money out of loyalty to colleagues" - Yes, have done multiple times and still to this day I don't take the highest paying job, its not all about money.....but that can't be applied across the board either way.

"Joe had one good season in 4" - No he didn't. It was clear to me throughout that Joe was a different level and to a few on here. He played for the first part in a poor team, and his form picked up as the teams did, but could always see he was something different.

"Last season injury prone" - I think he had a knock but had told GM he was off so he was dropped.

Whoever mentioned Joe and Ro-Shaun Williams in the same sentence seriously needs to get a grip. Joe is off to a team pushing for championship. RSW....anyone got news? Last story I saw was he was in Ireland nightclub with Rushford.

In my opinion Joe was a class player amd.wpuld have continued to develop, I would have done anything to keep him......Grant didn't think that way...... I trust in Grant.

When you listen to earlier interviews etc I'm convinced Stockport made an offer for Joe in January which we rejected but I think Joe told Grant he wanted to go. Soon after he got his "Injury" and we didn't see him again.....then he signs for Stockport.

I wish him well in life because he always came across as a great human being. I do not wish him success with Stockport. I hope we beat them twice and we aim for promotion while they finish below us.

Nothing against him as a person. It's a job. He honoured his fixed term contract and took the deal that suited him

There could be bigger losses, we move on.

All the best Joe

[roversdude]

Seemed to me that when he did the “coffee with” interview he knew he was going even some of Liams questions hinted at it.
Decent player and a great person wish him nothing but the best (apart from the 2 games against us lol)

[TonySoprano]

Honestly, we won't miss him, and I suspect stockport are overpaying him for how much he is actually worth.

[rich1471]

Christ Almighty...What a load of jealous unthinking tosh.

BobG

Jealous of who Bob?

Just happen to think Joe has put £ before achievements.

Let’s see how it pans out eh?

Maybe he needed the extra cash to help the church he is setting and that was his main reasons for leaving

[i_ateallthepies]

Wow!  a few sour grapes being sucked on here.

[steve@dcfd]

Joe is a good centre half but any body thinking he was going to a Championship club are making players better than what they are. He’s gone to Stockport but he’s replaced Horsfall who’s 3 years older and turned down a contract like Joe to go to Blackpool.
My main priority is where is the centre half to replace Joe we’ve signed one to replace Anderson we need one more at least. I assume he will be announced when Grant comes back off his break. Grant said it was close so let’s hope it was.

[NickDRFC]

People forget that football is fixed term contracts because there isn't a lot of that in the 'normal' world. But DRFC offered Joe a fixed term contract 2/4 yrs ago that suited the club, not the player. It suited the player enough such that he signed. Recently they offered him a renewal that wasn't suited to the player so he didn't sign - BUT he completed his contractual obligation- he owes us nothing more.

To address a few points on here paraphrased:

"Would you turn down more money out of loyalty to colleagues" - Yes, have done multiple times and still to this day I don't take the highest paying job, its not all about money.....but that can't be applied across the board either way.

"Joe had one good season in 4" - No he didn't. It was clear to me throughout that Joe was a different level and to a few on here. He played for the first part in a poor team, and his form picked up as the teams did, but could always see he was something different.

"Last season injury prone" - I think he had a knock but had told GM he was off so he was dropped.

Whoever mentioned Joe and Ro-Shaun Williams in the same sentence seriously needs to get a grip. Joe is off to a team pushing for championship. RSW....anyone got news? Last story I saw was he was in Ireland nightclub with Rushford.

In my opinion Joe was a class player amd.wpuld have continued to develop, I would have done anything to keep him......Grant didn't think that way...... I trust in Grant.

When you listen to earlier interviews etc I'm convinced Stockport made an offer for Joe in January which we rejected but I think Joe told Grant he wanted to go. Soon after he got his "Injury" and we didn't see him again.....then he signs for Stockport.

I wish him well in life because he always came across as a great human being. I do not wish him success with Stockport. I hope we beat them twice and we aim for promotion while they finish below us.

Nothing against him as a person. It's a job. He honoured his fixed term contract and took the deal that suited him

There could be bigger losses, we move on.

All the best Joe

Personally I just don’t think it’s comparable with other (normal, for want of a better word) types of work. I work for a company where although we pay OK, we’re certainly not market leaders. Where we differentiate, though, is in promoting work-life balance. There are no expectations to work beyond contracted hours. We have 8 additional Fridays off throughout the year. We promote learning & development and actively dedicate time to training. We’ve had several software engineers leave over the past couple of years for a 30-40% increase in salary. But alongside that increase there are expectations that they just strap themselves into the grind for 60+ hours a week. It’s a completely different environment and that’s why there’s a premium attached.

Football is completely different. Whether Olowu is at Rovers, Stockport, Orient or Derby the job is still the same at its core. Train several times a week and play 40-50 times a season. Expectations might be different in terms of performance levels, discipline, environment etc but ultimately he won’t really be working any more or less at any of those clubs.

And the money difference is probably very different to what most of us experience. We might have a choice where there’s a £5k, £10k or even £20k difference between 2 job and opt for the lower paid one. Olowu will be earning at the very least £100k more at Stockport. If any of us were offered that I’m sure it would be a much more difficult decision.

Ultimately a footballer is going to prioritise salary, length of contract and the chance of winning things. I think it’s really difficult to argue that Olowu’s not improved all 3 of those by moving on.

[keith79]

He's probably doubled his wages

[Usher wide.]

I believe we will be playing Championship football long before Stockport.

[DearneValleyRover]

Some massively over the top reactions as per usual, anybody who is offered a contract on better terms and money would do the same as Joe, he did nothing wrong

[selby]

  Given the chance Faulkner can be better.

[graingrover]

We have no grounds on which to criticise Olowu other than selfishness and self interest .His values have been shown to be both philanthropic and altruistic with all the work he did and indeed often led in our own Club’s community .