Harding to sign permanently?

[Richard_Cadette]

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.

I find it quite unrealistic that Reading would be interested in Dan Harding - They are a club with aspirations of returning to the Premiership, and whilst he is doing a decent job in League One, there is no way on Earth he is Premiership quality.

His wages may be a sticking point I guess, but I'd be surprised of Harding thinks he will get much better than a League One offer. It's possible that there are clubs out there willing to pay him more than we can, but possesson is nine tenths of the law, and as he has continually said, he is enjoying his time here, so why not lets strike while the iron is hot and try and snap him up?

None of us know the figures involved or the truth behind any of it, but simple logic would dictate to me that this kind of player would be within our scope if we really wanted him and were serious about trying to get out of this division.

 

[SUFCStu]

Hes been are best defender so far this season.

Hoping he can come on a perm deal along with Christophe and Sawyer, would make a nice christmas present.

 

[Angell Delight]

I'm actually wondering if we could get around the wages issue to a point by giving Harding a decent signing on fee if he should join. If he's really not in Ipswich's plans and no other sides come in for him they would surely be happy to get him off the wage bill in January rather than at the end of his contract.

If this is the case then given the fact we wouldn't have to pay an actual transfer fee for a player of Harding's quality a larger signing on fee paid to the player instead could be good business. We were going to pay around £125k-£150k for Mulgrew's services, it wouldn't be too much more than that in terms of the total deal if Harding was willing to take drop to say £2,500 p/w ish in wages (which given he wants to join and drop into League One he surely has to expect to do). The signing on fee would make up a fairly decent amount of his wage cut if we were to structure a deal in such a way.

 

[chapperzUK]

Great left-back. Has a good freekick on him aswell (which was missed in the telford game and the 3 he was suspended for). Hopefully he will be in our price range and he should agree to a cut in wages.

 

[South Bank Hank]

I find it quite unrealistic that Reading would be interested in Dan Harding - They are a club with aspirations of returning to the Premiership, and whilst he is doing a decent job in League One, there is no way on Earth he is Premiership quality.

His wages may be a sticking point I guess, but I'd be surprised of Harding thinks he will get much better than a League One offer. It's possible that there are clubs out there willing to pay him more than we can, but possesson is nine tenths of the law, and as he has continually said, he is enjoying his time here, so why not lets strike while the iron is hot and try and snap him up?

None of us know the figures involved or the truth behind any of it, but simple logic would dictate to me that this kind of player would be within our scope if we really wanted him and were serious about trying to get out of this division.

I believe you've answered your own question there. What always bemuses me is why people assume that we aren't trying to do these things all the time anyway. Tilson's made it pretty clear he wants the player. He also knows the figures he's up against and the constraints he's working to. Pretty safe to assume he's working all the angles.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I'm actually wondering if we could get around the wages issue to a point by giving Harding a decent signing on fee if he should join. If he's really not in Ipswich's plans and no other sides come in for him they would surely be happy to get him off the wage bill in January rather than at the end of his contract.

If this is the case then given the fact we wouldn't have to pay an actual transfer fee for a player of Harding's quality a larger signing on fee paid to the player instead could be good business. We were going to pay around £125k-£150k for Mulgrew's services, it wouldn't be too much more than that in terms of the total deal if Harding was willing to take drop to say £2,500 p/w ish in wages (which given he wants to join and drop into League One he surely has to expect to do). The signing on fee would make up a fairly decent amount of his wage cut if we were to structure a deal in such a way.

What incentive would there then be to then stay at Southend, when his agent rings him up and tells him he can double or treble his wages if he is interested. Oh and play at a higher level.

 

[Irate Ian]

I find it quite unrealistic that Reading would be interested in Dan Harding - They are a club with aspirations of returning to the Premiership, and whilst he is doing a decent job in League One, there is no way on Earth he is Premiership quality.

His wages may be a sticking point I guess, but I'd be surprised of Harding thinks he will get much better than a League One offer. It's possible that there are clubs out there willing to pay him more than we can, but possesson is nine tenths of the law, and as he has continually said, he is enjoying his time here, so why not lets strike while the iron is hot and try and snap him up?

None of us know the figures involved or the truth behind any of it, but simple logic would dictate to me that this kind of player would be within our scope if we really wanted him and were serious about trying to get out of this division.

Find myself in full agreement with this and your previous post.

Competent left back and strong enough for us in league one and would probably be average championship class, but IMO other posts on here widly over-estimate his ability, and hence his earning potential, on what we have seen to date.

A solid enough potential signing if he lowers his sights finacially and great news that he wants to join us. Don't bust the bank though.

Ipswich's current LB [Wright] played magnificently in East Anglian derby game last weekend and can well see why Magilton would not be adverse to him leaving.

 

[Kris]

What always bemuses me is why people assume that we aren't trying to do these things all the time anyway.

Agreed. It's like people have this image of Tilly picking his nose in his office and only taking action towards the end of a transfer window. Negotiations with various clubs over the availability of players are an on-going process, and some deals take weeks rather than days to sort out.

I remember reading that we first bid for Peter Clarke straight after the League 1 title-winning season ended but the transfer took the whole summer to sort out and he only signed a few days before the Championship campaign.

So I think it's pretty safe to say that Tilly, Ron et al are very busy behind the scenes trying to secure the likes of Sawyer and Harding, and preparing bids for other January signings.

 

[manor15]

apparently Reading want him too

 

[Ricey]

apparently Reading want him too

It is rumoured yes, but the fact is will he get first team football with Reading? At least if he signs for us he knows he is our no.1 left back and will play week in week out no matter what. He does not seem the play bothered by money as I think he must be aware he would need to take a pay cut to play for us.

 

[Richard_Cadette]

I believe you've answered your own question there. What always bemuses me is why people assume that we aren't trying to do these things all the time anyway. Tilson's made it pretty clear he wants the player. He also knows the figures he's up against and the constraints he's working to. Pretty safe to assume he's working all the angles.

I assumed nothing of the sort, nor, as someone else so eloquently put it, do I imagine Tilly is sitting at his desk picking his nose all day. I suggested that given the noises that Harding is making about staying with us, let's strike while the iron is hot and try and sign him - I don't believe I said we weren't trying to do that did I?

As it happens, however, in Tilly's interview on the website, he suggested that if Ipswich decide to sell him in January there's nothing we can do about it. That kind of sound byte suggests that we would indeed not attempt to sign him if that scenario presents itself, thereby, leaving himself open for supporters to muse out loud why not?

All Tilly has really said is that he wants to keep Harding here until the end of the season - that's not the same as saying he wants to keep him here permanently. If he is completely unrealistic because of our financial structure, then fine, but when our manager makes a comment like he did, which can be interpreted to read that we will make no attempt to sign him should Ipswich decide to cash in, it bemuses me as to why you think fans would think anything different?

 

[Benfleet Blue]

I assumed nothing of the sort, nor, as someone else so eloquently put it, do I imagine Tilly is sitting at his desk picking his nose all day. I suggested that given the noises that Harding is making about staying with us, let's strike while the iron is hot and try and sign him - I don't believe I said we weren't trying to do that did I?

As it happens, however, in Tilly's interview on the website, he suggested that if Ipswich decide to sell him in January there's nothing we can do about it. That kind of sound byte suggests that we would indeed not attempt to sign him if that scenario presents itself, thereby, leaving himself open for supporters to muse out loud why not?

All Tilly has really said is that he wants to keep Harding here until the end of the season - that's not the same as saying he wants to keep him here permanently. If he is completely unrealistic because of our financial structure, then fine, but when our manager makes a comment like he did, which can be interpreted to read that we will make no attempt to sign him should Ipswich decide to cash in, it bemuses me as to why you think fans would think anything different?

Excellent post and response as always I tend to agree with you RC.

I, and I believe, many others, would consider ST's statement and understand that, as always, RM will not provide the funds to sign Harding if Ipswich want to sell.

That situation was no different to the Charlie Mulgrew situation when we possibly had the opportunity. The 'war chest' just never seems to materialise when promised !!

If his contract expires at the end of the season there will surely be many clubs who would be prepared to negotiate on the asking price as Ipswich would surely will want to cash in and the chances of him ending up at Roots Hall would be non existant.

I love him as a player, especially at our level but as with many before the funds will not, I believe, be made available.

 

[Kristof]

Would love to be able to sign Dan, just fear he's out of our price range, fingers crossed thou