Barton, Contracts and Agents

Joey Stalls Over New Contract ?

Rumours are circulating that Joey Barton will reject a new contract offer and will hold out for more money.


Traditionally there’s a lot of hype about these types of reports with loads of inaccurate speculation about the value of contracts and how much players will be earning a week, so we all need to be a little careful before passing judgement. Only the parties concerned know what the real score is, but I think most Blues will be disappointed if these rumours turn out to be true.


Of course it’s natural for people to want to earn big money, but one detects the influence of ruthless agents and advisors who are primarily driven by commission and percentages. We do understand the arguments about limited earning potential from short careers etc..etc, but if the latest figures are to be believed, Joey has rejected a deal worth more per week than most loyal Blues, those that turn up home and away, earn in a year. I suspect there won’t be too much sympathy if he and his agents are holding out for more money.


The Club have shown Joey a lot of loyalty during his time at City. Well reported incidents at Christmas parties and pre-season tours have made the national press and for most clubs, that would have been the straw that finally broke the camels back with contracts immediately terminated. City have also publicly supported Joey through his recent difficult family circumstances involving his brother, again well documented.


City have developed and nurtured Joey into a potential international player and it is surely only a matter of time before he’s given his chance in the full England squad. It may be naive to think like this these commercially dominated days, but perhaps Joey needs to consider what the club has done for him and show a bit of loyalty in return so.


Joey’s performances have been good and he has quite rightly become a crowd favourite. He deserves an improved contract, no doubt about it, but he also needs to be careful not to be seen as ungrateful and mercenary by rejecting generous new contact terms whilst also remembering the Club is bigger and more important than any individual, however good they think they are.




M.Shaw 25/01/06