Harding to sign permanently?

[Kris]

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/3970790.Harding_keen_to_stay_a_Shrimper/

I still think we have very little chance but some interesting quotes from Harding there, particularly the one about wanting to repay Tilly's faith in him.

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

Be up to Ipswich at the end of the day, They can cash in on him in Jan, How much can they realistically get for him.

Be good to get him on loan for the rest of the season then get him for nothing in the summer.

Think he'll have to take a big pay cut.

 

[Smiffy]

Harding - "I want to stay for good"

Dan Harding has again insisted he wants to stay at Southend permanently.

Let's hope Ipswich are sensible with their asking price and Dan himself can agree a probably quite considerable wage cut.

Roll on January..

Here

 

[OldBlueLady]

The pay is the thing though, if they've been able to meet somewhere in the middle on "the manager knows what I want" then maybe there's a chance.

 

[seany t]

What do people think of him now?

I've seen him 3 times and was very impressed once, underwhelmed another and didn't notice him the other game. But comments on here seem to think he is way out of our league.

Is he?

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

I think he is probably a bit out of our league but if the player wants to stay here as he claims then half the battle is won (presumeably he knows what we can't afford in terms of wages). Afterall Ipswich can't force him to sign for another club, he can run down his contract if he so desires.

 

[Kris]

What do people think of him now?

I've seen him 3 times and was very impressed once, underwhelmed another and didn't notice him the other game. But comments on here seem to think he is way out of our league.

Is he?

As far as I'm concerned Harding is the best left-back we've had since Sir Chrissy. Defensively he's excellent and I don't think any winger has got the better of him yet. He's also very good on the ball and overlaps well.

He's a bit suspect in the air but that's the only weakness I can think of right now. He's easily Championship quality.

 

[Sussex Shrimper]

You never know how much of what comes out of a player's mouth is just to keep the fans sweet, but if he's genuine then we should certainly open negotiations if possible. He's only 24 and could be our best left back since Our Lord Chrissy Powell in my opinion. If it ain't to be then that's how it is, but we can at least try.

 

[Smiffy]

As league one left backs go, he is up there with the best. A settled and permanently signed Harding will be a real asset for us. Him, Jeff, and Sawyer all signing permanently, would definitely be a step towards the Championship in my opinion.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I've liked him from day one, even when people were still moaning about Mulgrew going, however, the last couple of games he has been a little erratic. I'd love to sign him as a permanent player, we'll have to wait and see though.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

As league one left backs go, he is up there with the best. A settled and permanently signed Harding will be a real asset for us. Him, Jeff, and Sawyer all signing permanently, would definitely be a step towards the Championship in my opinion.

A step towards building a team that could get to and perhaps stay in the Championship.
I would draw your attention to the newsnow site and the article on TWTD
'Harding wants to stay at Southend'. There are some interesting replies which I would not choose to quote on here.

 

[OldBlueLady]

A step towards building a team that could get to and perhaps stay in the Championship.
I would draw your attention to the newsnow site and the article on TWTD
'Harding wants to stay at Southend'. There are some interesting replies which I would not choose to quote on here.

:stunned: Poor bloke, welcome him here with open arms.

 

[Lord Football]

He'd be an excellent signing. He has had two poor games IMHO but those aside he has been a class as anyone we've had at left back for a good number of years.

I doubt however whether we can afford him or his wages, but it'd be great if we could.

 

[shrimperjon]

No doubt about it would be a great signing. I hope that it does not come down to his demands. He clearly, must have made money from previous transfers and hopefully will come to us due to the fact that he is guaranteed first team footie and with the other signings and those rumoured see us a potential championship side. we must sign sawyer (or like) and a winger, and a centre back. this is a must if we are to succeed.

 

[Richard_Cadette]

I think he is probably a bit out of our league but if the player wants to stay here as he claims then half the battle is won (presumeably he knows what we can't afford in terms of wages). Afterall Ipswich can't force him to sign for another club, he can run down his contract if he so desires.

I don't for one second believe he is out of our league. He is a decent League One left back, but let's be honest, he's not the best we have seen this season, and his career has never really hit the heights some would have expected after bursting onto the scene with Brighton.

Whenever he has played for a Championship side, he has usually been in and out of the team, and never a regular suggesting League One is his realistic level.

I'd be pleased if we sign him - not only because we don't have any alternatives at the moment, and he has slotted in well.

What disturbed me the most about Tilly's comments the other day were that it was out of our hands, and if Ipswich want to cash in on him, then there is nothing we can do..... erm, perhaps buy him Tilly?? His fee will not be out of our reach at all, especially as his contract is up at the end of the season. I appreciate we are going to try and wait until the end of the season and pick him up on a free, but if we want him, then let's stop fannying around and buy the guy!

As for wages, would he command more the likes of Peter Clarke, Dougie Freedman and Alan MacCormack? I seriously doubt it.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Be up to Ipswich at the end of the day, They can cash in on him in Jan, How much can they realistically get for him.

Be good to get him on loan for the rest of the season then get him for nothing in the summer.

Think he'll have to take a big pay cut.

Exactly its got to be all about his wages. Ipswich will know that he can walk in the summer and that they'll be on the hook for the wages of a player who isn't in their long term plans. I can't imagine that they are asking for anything other than to cover his wages and any signing on bonus that they still haven't paid that will become due if he doesn't request a move.

The issue for us is his wages. He might be making encouraging noises, but I don't believe we can afford championship wages, especially for a full-back, even though he might be the best full-back in the division. I'd be surprised but delighted if we sign him permanently, but we might get him back on loan for the rest of the season.

 

[fredheim_holm]

What do people think of him now?

I've seen him 3 times and was very impressed once, underwhelmed another and didn't notice him the other game. But comments on here seem to think he is way out of our league.

Is he?

Fantastic left back, our best defender personally, although possibly Barrett could challenge for that. Clearly out most gifted defensively defender though.

He stands up and waits for the man to try and beat him, and when he does he just picks him off. Fantastic positional sense and just does the simple option. A championship quality left back at least in my opinion, would love him to sign, I just hope we don't cripple our wage budget.

 

[Kris]

As for wages, would he command more the likes of Peter Clarke, Dougie Freedman and Alan MacCormack? I seriously doubt it.

Well, Harding is reportedly on about double that of our current top wage earner and I think Tilly was quoted at the AGM saying that we are currently paying less than half of his wages.

Freedman, like Shaun Goater during his spell here, is actually on a relatively low wage by all accounts - didn't he say something like: "Just pay me what the others are on" when he signed? I don't think McCormack is on a particularly high wage either, while Blackpool (when in League 1) were willing to match our wage offer for Peter Clarke so I doubt he's earning big bucks either.

I think what Tilly meant when he said the Harding situation was out of his hands was that there are believed to be Championship sides interested in him - most notably Reading - and if so, we would have next to no chance of signing him ourselves. I'm sure Tilly is already negotiating with Ipswich but, even if we do have the cash available, it will take a miracle to actually get Harding if there are others from the division above after him as well.

Ultimately, wages are going to be the sticking point, unless Harding is willing to take a sizeable cut.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I think Clarke is one of our biggest wage earners which has been the sticking point for a lot on here, don't think Dougie or Macca are on anything like the same money. Barrett and Francis are probably the nearest.

 

[Medway Blue]

My understanding is that he is on somewhere between £6k and £8k p/w at Ipswich and that whatever the exact figure, we're only able to pay 30-40% of it for the duration of his loan. So yes, wages would be an issue, because it comes down to whether he's willing to take a 60% wage cut!