Colm's Corner
Columnist: Colm Kavanagh

Leon Bosman?
11 November 2004

Leon Osman: paid a pittance?

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum – Nothing But The Best Will Do.  A hollow statement, if ever there was one, particular in these barren times of openness and transparency at “The People’s Club”.  Openness and transparency……………..aye, Bill…

We still await the imminent dissolution of True Blue Holdings, as revealed at the EGM last September.  We still await the confirmation of incoming funds from this Fortress Sports Fund thingy:–

“Well there’s two tranches…there’s an original 29.9% and then possibly some more. So, you know, thirteen to fourteen million and then another fifteen million down the line. So there’s a possible twenty eight, twenty nine million…”

Excellent news indeed, Mr Chairman!

With so much money about to come into the Club (who really cares about the possibility of Everton FC being owned by overseas businessmen eh?) and not forgetting the record loot secured from Manchester United… well, we’re quids in, surely?

Stop.

Why am I feeling pretty glum about our immediate future when all appears to be going swimmingly?  Third in the league, one foot in the Champions League, ahead of the neighbours and playing football with a smile not seen for years — why dwell on the negatives?

Well — I’d like to know, for sure, that David Moyes will indeed sign an extension to his Everton contract.  A little dicky bird told me that our manager, upon hearing his chairman wax lyrical with Jonathan Pierce on BBC 5Live, contacted his boss with a shopping list for the next transfer window, seeing as he was arguably the least active buying manager in the previous transfer window. 

If all is to be believed, I hear our Chairman was not best pleased with the media reports (his own words included) saying Everton were in the money and the manager would avail of the funds.  We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and cut him some slack and dismiss it as no more than an Internet rumour as we know our Chairman will do his absolute best to provide the funds necessary this coming January for all that early season optimism to continue.  It’s surely an absolute possibility…

Twelve games into the current season, I’ve heard some cracking reasons why we’re riding so high in the Premiership:

Everton are a better team without the disruptive hype surrounding Wayne Rooney.  Exactly!  Who needs the kid when you’ve got Marcus Bent hobbling off after fifteen minutes?  We now have such an array of attacking options should our lone striker find himself sidelined — Ferguson, Campbell, Chadwick.  McFadden if required.  Who needs Rooney now eh?  Not us – we’re third! 

We’re also playing better as a team because most of the players (meaning those not released last summer in the wages cull!) are all playing for new contracts, trying to impress and convince the management that they deserve a renewed contract.  If that is true then it speaks volumes for the commitment of some (as seen almost weekly from October ’03 to May ’04).  When it comes to money – wages – we’re a funny old Club, “The People’s Club.”  We have in the past seen quite a number of players pass through Everton Football Club, earning a bloody fortune for little return.  The likes of Slaven Bilic instantly springs to mind — a man who gave outstanding service to the Club and was paid accordingly.  Thing is though, players like “our Slav” — they’re not scousers, or kids who grew up loving the Blues and dreaming of one day pulling on the famous Royal Blue shirt.  They get paid a king’s ransom and all keep an uneasy quiet once it dawns that we’re being fleeced.  Again.

The flip side of that is, of course, the kid that comes through the ranks and earns himself a place in the first team squad.  Leon Osman is one such player — a young player who has patiently waited (and waited…) for his time to come.  The fact that Osman suffered a serious injury a few seasons back will only have served to remind Osman that a career playing football can be terminated with one bad tackle.  Osman has proved many people wrong over the past two years — initial loan spells at both Carlisle United and a very successful time at Derby County have provided Osman with the opportunity to show his wares.  Something we’ve now all come to appreciate at Goodison? 

Well, not quite.  You see, Osman’s contract is up for renewal at the end of the season and like others he’s seeking a new improved deal.  He is currently one of the worst paid players in our first team squad.  If we were in his shoes wouldn’t we seek the same?  He has caught the eye in most games this season with his eagerness to impress (not forgetting his goals) and his performances have not gone unnoticed by the Goodison faithful.  However, the Club are stalling on giving Osman a better deal.  His current contract sees him earn a pitiful 1/17th (ish) of what’s (allegedly!) being paid out to both Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell.  His current contract sees his wages topped up by appearance incentives — he gets selected then he is paid more.  It’s as simple as that.  Still in the ha’penny place, trotting behind the rest of them…

The new deal currently being offered to Osman sees no real increase in wages — a simple jigging about with the figures.  I believe his basic wage would rise slightly but his appearance bonus drop.  There’s an incentive eh?!  “Here, lad, sign here………you’ve earned a new deal…sign here, we want to pay you more for possibly not being picked!”  With both Ferguson and Campbell looking increasingly due for the departure lounge, it will release a lot of money for the manager (or Philip Green?!).  Surely young Osman is worth a more respectable wage (in today’s ‘going rate’).  Even with an increase in wages nearer to what’s being asked, that will still remain a LOT less than the figure being earned by Marcus Bent.

Surely it’s in the best interests of “The People’s Club” to look after “one of our own”?  A local lad ‘done good’ and now using the stage at Goodison to show one and all that “hey, he ain’t a bad lad that Ossie….”

If not, then we’re already anticipating the use of the local media — the Echo in particular — as Osman too heads for pastures new (Bolton and Middlesbrough already monitoring the situation).  I can see the headline already — “OSMAN REJECTS DEAL” — with little detail given beyond the banner headline.  What is it with local lads not earning financial parity with their teammates at Everton?  Must they ALWAYS settle for the pride that comes with donning the shirt and no more?  Those days are long gone.

Get it sorted Everton before there’s a gap on that right side of midfield and a player gone elsewhere for nothing.  If that happens…well, we’ll need to scour for a replacement.  Recent history points towards the arrival of an unknown foreigner (knowledge of the English language optional!) and you can bet your last pound that they will NOT accept the same wage deal currently being offered Osman.  If a new deal is not sorted soon enough, will Leon Osman become Leon Bosman?  T'was ever thus at the School of Science…

Colm Kavanagh

The above is the personal viewpoint of Colm Kavanagh and is not written on behalf of any group or affiliation

Reader Responses

Would it not be more fair in the spirit of openness and transparency to title your pieces "I hate BK and the owners of the Club!"  After all, why attempt irony and sarcasm when the truth will do for most Blues!  You desire this "transparency thing"; practice what you preach!

As for your piece.  As usual, an ever so slightly flawed premise... but, as all good tabloid writers, why let that get in the way of a good piece?

You are firstly desperate to see DM signed.  I presume this is because you believe him to be a good Manager?  Well, if that is the case, why not let him Manage and you stick to what you are good at... which is?  DM is totally responsible for deciding the players' futures and more importantly DM decides how he wants to structure his team.  So Mr Osman will have his deal done by DM.  DM decides within the framework set by the budgetary constraints of the Club's trading position, now set by KW.  The Board only gets involved in exceptional matters outside the normal parameters, which is as it should be.  But that would ruin a good conspiracy theory.

For the record and for the hard of hearing like yourself:

1. Dissolution of TBH does depend on the new offer being ratified.  However, TBH or no TBH, it makes not a blind bit of difference to the running of the Club as the Shareholdings will still ensure a similar status quo.  Dissolution of TBH is a red herring of an idea when discussing development of the Club.
    
2. The OFFER from Fortress Sports is just that — an "offer!"  The Board will only ratify this, and ask for its acceptance at the AGM, if it is in the best interests of the Club.  It is the negotiations to protect the interests of the Club that have been the most demanding, as you would expect.  However, due to the original xenophobia and the ongoing adverse comments, it would not be a surprise if any potential investors withdraw the offer.  Then we can all thank Colm and Co for all their hard work in preventing the Club getting £30M to £60M........
    
3. Why the hell should either EFC or DM declare their private business to Colm and Co?  Am I missing something here?  Does Colm confide to the world all his buisness relationships?  No, because it would be poor business practice.  KW has brought to Everton good, solid business practices; for that he should be applauded.
    
4. DM did not contact BK after the Radio 5 Live piece except to laugh at the absurdity!  DM was already fully aware of his opportunities — ahead of which, the least said the better.  As for Colm's imaginary dickie-bird, best feed it some better quality bird seed because it is feeding you some poor quality crap.
    
5. Re. the 5 Live piece, BK was upset that once again his words were taken out of context and miss-reported.
    
6. With regard to Wayne: Perhaps Colm missed most of Wayne's contributions last season for Everton — but then so did most of us. Only a complete and utter obsessive would think that Wayne had a positive effect on the Team.  But then only a complete and utter celebrity fan would be bitter that we are third!  This team believes in themselves and plays for the pride of the Blue shirt and I would go to watch this team in third or thirteenth because I feel as if they give 110% in every game!
    
7. As for Osman, well I will trust DM on that one.  After all, I can't be stupid enough to say he is wonderful on one hand and daft on the other, I mean how would that make Colm look...

""T'was ever thus at the School of Science…""  Tell you what, let's trust in DM...  or Colm..... DM or Colm...  oops its a hard one, after all Colm is on the inside?

Colin Laphan

P.S.  The above is the personal viewpoint of Colin Laphan and is not written on behalf of any group or affiliation.  It is not designed to destroy any myths that Colm and Co like to perpetrate and any misinterpretation or coincidental writing is totally disavowed.

Are you a pessimistic sod, or perhaps you are just here to run down Everton Football Club, and undermine any good work BK is trying to carry out. You will have heard by now that DM has signed a new contract with the club. All Evertonians will be made up with this news, I wonder if you will be. I get the impression you would like to see the club go to the wall and be relegated just so you can say "I told you so". I have no doubt that BK is trying his hardest to raise funds for the club which, unless another mad Russian appears from the mist can not be the easiest of tasks. Also, any funding that is available will not be disclosed publically, because the selling club will immediately bump up the price.

Leon Osman has only come good for Everton this season (playing well for Carlisle and Derby doesn't a Premiership player make). I am sure if DM wants him then DM will give him the contract he deserves. Agent Johnston (sic) hasn't been heard of for a while. Can we be sure you are not him in disguise?

Ste Summers

Just because we're third doesn't mean everything is perfect, or that improvements to the way we run as a club can't be made. Having transparency is a vital thing in the business place — don't have any clue what Laphan {lapdog?} was talking about here. Keep calling it as it IS not as other people would like us to see it.

David C

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