The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

Question of the Week

Is football a business or a sport?




 

The Handyside Debate

By: David Peasgood
Date: 17/11/2000

David Peasgood this week finds that Fred and Bert have read that Portsmouth want to buy Handyside. According to reports in the press the 26-year-old Scot, who has been in superb form since his return from injury, is a target of temporary Pompey boss Steve Claridge.

The Handyside Debate

Hear their views and YOU decide in our latest 'fishy' poll.

Bert & Fred

The Handyside Debate

FRED:
Sell him

BERT:
No way. Keep him.

FRED:
He is out of contract in 7 months and can walk out on a Bosman for nothing. Sell him now for about 600 thousand, invest half back in a new central defender and let the lad go.

BERT:
We need him in the team. We've stood by him for a year ill and he should repay loyalty.

FRED:
I bet he wont earn over 2 to 3 grand a week here and he must be one of our top earners, but Portsmouth can offer double that without batting an eyelid. Loyalty you ask? Well he has a family and about 5 to 8 years left in the game so he needs to earn a few bob while he can. He owes that to his family.

BERT:
We'll suffer without him.

FRED:
I'll not deny it, but no point hanging on to him if he wants to go, and at the end of the day can town afford to lose 600 thousand to keep him here for the rest of the season?

BERT:
He could be worth more than that.

FRED:
He'll be worth nil to town come next august, and de devalues with every passing month. Same as Jack Lester. We got a few bob while we could but in the end Forest tripled his wages.

BERT:
I bet Lennie wants to keep him.

FRED:
I agree, but the board have to be businessmen and a sale may be good business for the bank and for the lad Peter himself.

BERT:
And just GTFC suffer?

FRED:
Unless we replace him then yes, but we'd find another fullback. I admit I don't like it, but sometimes it's like that and you lose both ways.

Now for the vote...

Would you let Handyside leave if town were guaranteed at least £500,000?

Strong yes
Weak yes
Neutral
Weak no
Strong no

Do you think Handyside should put his livelihood before loyalty to GTFC?

Strong yes
Weak yes
Neutral
Weak no
Strong no

Do you think we can replace Handyside?

Yes, easily
Yes, within 2 months
With difficulty
Not at all

What would be the effect of Handyside's departure?

Relegation as a direct consequence
We are doomed anyway
Negative but not life-threatening
Negligible
Surge up the table
Unsure

What would you do if you were Peter Handyside?

Sign a new contract with Town
Sign for Pompey
Wait for a bigger club than Pompey
Don't even think about it

Results

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