Blackburn Owners Venky’s Have A Bone To Pick With Phil Jones & Man United
Venky’s feathers are ruffled over the Phil Jones to manchester United deal.
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Blackburn Rovers’ Indian owners, the Venky’s chicken conglomerate, have taken up the standard in a centuries old battle. Since the Empire’s infancy, it’s conquered vassals have had to fight fiercely to hold the British to their signed word. Such skirmishes have been fought in every corner of the world, from India and China, to Africa, the South Pacific and the Americas. Since the Empire’s decline, many nations have gained both independence and some leverage against their former governors. The fight to keep Phil Jones at Ewood Park is a lost cause, however.
First and foremost, the law which governs player movement in England is no longer in the hands of the FA or the High Court. It resides with the EU. When, on 15 December, 1995, the European Court ruled in favour of Jean-Marc Bosman, allowing any player to move freely at the end of his contract, it was only a matter of time before a written agreement between player and club became binding for about as long as it would be able to contain a greasy piece of fish wrapped in it.
Of course, the nineteen-year-old defender, Jones, still has four years outstanding from the five-year agreement he penned in 2010. Yet, the juicy fish, in this case a boy’s life-long dream to play for Manchester United, has rendered the contract to a soggy pulp. Word given matters not because the Bosman Ruling eventually begat so-called ‘get out’ clauses, one of which was contained in Jones’ agreement with Rovers.
While it’s easy – very easy - to ridicule Venky’s for railing against the system, I have to confess that a part of me admires their determination even as I have a chuckle at their expense. They may be entirely naïve when it comes to the business of football but you have to admire the chicken vendor’s pluck - told you it was easy – in standing up to England’s largest club.
They aren’t going to win, though. Phil Jones will be playing for United in the coming season. Venky’s position, that they have a right to turn down a buy-out offer which has exceeded the clause inserted in the contract, is not going to – ahem - fly. The clause is inserted specifically for the purpose of allowing the player to progress with his career if he develops faster than anticipated. If the club underestimates his ability and has attached an insufficient valuation to the buy-out clause, they can blame no one but themselves.
Likewise, questioning how United knew the specific amount of the buy-out before meeting it and thus gaining the right to negotiate terms with the player, will also be pecked apart should matters proceed that far. Even if there was a confidentiality clause forbidding Jones or his representatives to reveal terms of the deal, it will be almost impossible to prove that United initiated contact or knew that the information was tainted goods.
In fact, the first commenter to Lancashire Telegraph reporter Andy Cryer’s post, heralding the original deal, speculates on the amount of the buy out clause. If the man on the street was certain that such a codicil exists, Blackburn’s expectations of privacy were extremely limited.
Still, Venky’s may wrest one or two million more out of Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill, not necessarily to conceal any culpability but with a mind to getting on with the remainder of their summer business. They have a finite time to acquire specific targets in a competitive arena, Ferguson and Gill will want to either secure the deal or move on, knowing in both cases exactly what their remaining resources are.
As Jones has already refused to negotiate with other Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool, and has turned down an improved contract from Blackburn, United don’t have to sweat the competition and Rovers, if they choose to not to sell, will be stuck with a disgruntled player. Therefore, if the Mancunians do sweeten the pot, it won’t be by much.
Andy Cryer also interviewed former Rovers defender Henning Berg before the details of the dispute came out. Venky’s, to further their football education, might be well advised to listen to their illustrious alumnus.
“If Blackburn had stood in his way it would have upset the player and it would also put off the top young talent joining the club. That is football and there is no way Blackburn would be able to stop a player joining the second best team in Europe.
Blackburn Rovers are not going to be challenging for the top four. What this move will do is encourage more young players to come through the ranks and it also provides the money to add three or four quality players to the squad.
If Blackburn can keep doing this then one day maybe they will be in the position where they don’t have to sell their top young players because they will back challenging at the top themselves.”
Berg should know what he’s talking about. In 1997, he made the self-same switch to United for a then record £5 million.
Again, it’s great that Venky’s want to hold onto their talent and become a force in the Premier League. It won’t happen overnight, however, and certainly not if the players are forced to play against their will. If they take the money, as Berg recommends, and wisely turn over the proceeds, they may soon find themselves evolving from a selling club to a buying one.
In the meantime, they’re going to have to accept that the foxes are occasionally going to raid the coop.
Special Feature - If you ordered the director’s cut of this post, here’s a bonus clip starring Foghorn Leghorn as Venky’s, the Dog as Phil Jones, the Fox as Sir Alex Ferguson and the Bantam Rooster as the FA. Enjoy!
as usual a member of the media all in favour of the bigger club!! ridiculous … is there no benefit of the doubt that maybe there have been any underhand tactics by the parties involved?? Of course not Manchester United are savours and the perfect club. How are teams meant to improve when the worlds media don’t give the little clubs a chance!! Today I even heard blackburn referred to as Blackpool on talksport by respected pundits, it would not be acceptable if Utd were referred to as Manchester City or even getting mixed up with Sheffield Wednesday or United but for some reason the media don’t give a monkeys about Rovers!!
There’s a difference between saying something can’t be proven and that it didn’t happen.
the thing is, Venky’s don’t to keep him, they want more MONEY, that’s it
They did offer him a very nice improvement on the existing contract, so it’s more accurate to say that they wanted to keep him but failing that…
Berg is a self-serving douchebag. If Jones had torn his ACL and lost two yards of pace and been no better than a reserve, he (Berg) would have expected Blackburn to keep up their end of the contract.
If a young player signs a long contract then he should be held to it. if Jones thought Man Utd was going to come knocking then don’t sign a contract or go from year to year. Players and their agents have all the power now and can force clubs out of contracts that they themselves signed and no longer find acceptable. Bottom feeders like United profit and clubs like Blackburn suffer.
If the game doesn’t change (with only three clubs with a realistic chance of winning the title), nobody will bother to watch eventually. I mean look at Scotland – Rangers or Celtic – talk about boring!!
Jones was not trying to break the contract, Venky’s were. If a club agrees to a buy-out clause, they can hardly complain when use is made of it.
The way you’ve written that Mr. Palazotto anybody would think you were a Utd fan. Liverpool have bid £22m so it will be a few more than a couple of million. Offering the lad £40000 then £80000/week is enough to turn anyone’s head from Liverpool. It worked with Lucas Neill.
As stated in the article, Jones’ club of choice is United. He has turned down Liverpool and Arsenal among others. Since any club which bids for a player must also agree terms with said, Liverpool’s bid is overvalued at tuppence, since Jones won’t sign with them.
As for me, how many United fans do you know who write something called the Scouser Report?
As alluded to in the comment, Utd are the boy’s club of choice because they’ve offered a bigger wage.
“Scouser Report”? Never heard of it.
And I suppose he said no thank you to Arsenal and Liverpool because they didn’t?
An extremely biased piece of journalism, Mr Palazzotto. By the way, Henning Berg is actually to the left of the picture, not the right.
I think it’s hilarious that Rovers are putting Unted’s arrogant nose out of joint.
Yes, fixed. apparently I’m a latent dyslexic.
And yes, Blackburn are putting United’s noise out of joint, which matters naught to me. Berg is right, however. In doing so, they’ve upset the player and, more importantly, his agent, which will make it more difficult for them to sign other players to favourable terms in the future.
You are obviously a bit dim aren’t you. He signed a new contract in Feb 2011, Henning berg is on the left, taking a cheap shot at the indian owners by rolling out the chicken jokes, boring, no-one ever mentions west ham making money out of selling dildo’s, and all because they dare to place their own value on their own player. Rovers are not refusing to sell him, they just want a fair price, if two people offered you money for your car and it said on the contract you had to listen to offers over 1000, listen being the correct wording and not release, so one who has insider knowledge of the clause offers 1001 and the other offers you 3000, who would you sell it too. Even if your car was sucking up to greasy manc maggot salesmen. You are obviously a manc maggot who thinks they can do as they like and get away with it. Maggots, do you realise how hated you are. Maggots Maggots Maggots. Payup or piss off. You stick to watching soccer and thinking wwe is real, thats your level.
First, I’ve made my share of jokes about Goldivan. Why pass up such an opportunity?
Second, the buy-out clause is a price for early termination of the contract, agreed upon in advance, not a starting point for negotiations, else it has no worth at all. Owners could simply ignore it if they wanted to keep the player.
Third, get some therapy. This maggot obsession you have is unhealthy.
Look theres only you and the rest of the, lets get in bed with Man U, press stating that it is a release clause, Rovers are saying that if anyone offered over 16 million, the player was allowed to talk with that club. Well he has talked to them and he wants to go. Meanwhlie Liverpool have come in with a bid of 22 million. So he can talk to them as well. Then we will sell him to liverpool because they offered us a bigger pie. What don’t you understand about that. If the deal was as simple as you state, it would have completed on Friday and you wouldn’t look as stupid as you already do. Maggot
I hope ROVERS get what they want but i don’t think they will UNITED like there boss are bullies.I wonder if big sam leaked the clause to his big friend Fergie(rudolph) it would not surprise me.Come on venkeys don’t be bullied stand up to the big clubs although i can’t see you winning it is about time some one did. COME ON YOU BLUES.
Well, at least one person got the general idea. Thank you, Derek.
What a load of poo, end of the day these players get paid silly amounts of money to give away there rights to a football club. Jones should be grateful he is in the position that he is in!!! It was Blackburn that took him from a teenager into a world class football player which he is today. Therefore if Blackburn don’t want to sell him he needs to do the right thing and stay grounded and play his balls off for the team. He at least should give back another 3 years.
Good luck Blackburn
It’s that mentality which makes the Bill Gates and Richard Bransons of the world very happy men.
In too many sports, including football, fans and media talk about what young players owe their club but just as often, players at the other end of their careers, especially those that were not highly paid stars, are deserted by those same clubs. So, that argument holds no water with me. If one side is going to have an advantage, I want it to be the little guy on his way up.
What a ridiculous piece of journalism.
It starts from the pre-supposition that you know the content of Jones’ contract – until the exact wording of the terms of his “buy out” clause come to light then there can be no definitive answer to the question of who is entitled to do what…
What is most probable however is that the Venky’s will have retained some of the best contract lawyers in the country – who I will wager are a damn sight more capable than the flash boys down at Brabner Chaffe Street…
@ ‘Phil Jones’ and Matthew,
I do not need to have read the contract. No self respecting agent in any sport would allow his client to sign an agreement which allowed him to ‘just talk’ to another club for a specific price. What good does that do for the player?
The price is established so that the player can negotiate terms of employment. As well, if a second club meets the price, it’s the player, not the club, who gets to choose for which he’d rather play.
I understand that fans love their club with all their heart but they are the only ones who do. The owners and players are in it for the money. Like it or not, that’s the reality of the game.
Hello. I support Rovers because Our Ryan… Rovers ‘Nellie’ is a KIWI BOY. I cannot stand VENKYS…Should stick to laying ROTTEN EGGS and LEAVE FOOTBALL TO THE PROFESSIONALS, WHO ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE ABOUT AND DOING.
Their chairwoman/owner knows jacksh*** about the BUSINESS OF FOOTBALL. and it is my opinion that they acquired the club under the RUSE of actually wanting to set-up their ROTTEN EGG BUSINESS IN THE UK…VENKYS is operational in parts of EUROPE…but PRIOR TO THE TAKEOVER OF VENKYS they did not have a MARKET FOR THEIR PRODUCTS IN THE UK…NOW THEY DO…VIA A FOOTBALL CLUB…THAT STUPID C** HAD’NT EVEN BEEN TO A FOOTBALL GAME…AND THEY STATED THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGES IN STAFF…WHAT HAPPENED? BIG SAM GOT SHAFTED.
HOPE PHIL WILL BE HAPPY AT HIS NEW ABODE OF EMPLOYMENT…GOOD ON HIM.
I hate the smell of rotten eggs.