Dowie needs to get contracts signed

Last updated : 29 July 2003 By The Chairman

Iain Dowie needs clarification regarding the outstanding contract deals and needs some action before the season is upon him. He said, “It can't go on too much longer with David Eyres and John Eyre not playing. It's not good for them and it's not good for us. They've shown fantastic loyalty as have people like Clyde Wijnhard, to have been here and to have been around. Let's not forget that Danny Forde, Danny Hall, Marc Tierney and Adam Griffin haven't signed contracts either. Danny Hall has been outstanding and hasn't signed a contract the lad, if he breaks his leg and smashes it in three places what do I say to his mum and dad when he can never play again? It's not right it shouldn't happen.”

If contract action is not taken soon he could end up losing even more of his more experienced players. Dowie has already rejected bids for some of his staff. Les Pogliacomi (several clubs), Will Haining (Everton), Paul Murray (Blackpool), Josh Low (Northampton and Bradford) and Darren Sheridan are all being chased and even trialist midfielder Ernie Cooksey is being watched by Port Vale. Dowie’s five contracted players will all be free agents next summer and the decision has to be made whether to cash in now or not.

If David Eyres and John Eyre re-sign as expected in the next few days it will still leave Dowie with just 14 profssional players to start the season. Clyde Wijnhard hopes to be ready for competitive action for the start of the season. Rumours that he was training with Grimsby were unfounded and he hopes to stay at Boundary Park as he bids to recover from knee surgery. Clyde said, “Everything is fine, now I am doing a lot of running and weights and hope to be able to play in a week.”

Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore was impressed by Julien Baudet (Baudet) on the recent tour of the Isle of Man and hopes to make the deal permanent. Moore said, “Julien has a thigh strain which meant he missed the Stocksbridge game and he is unlikely to play against Middlesbrough but hopefully it will not affect his chances of joining us, because I think he has done enough to win a contract.”