Building not tearing down

With stories circulating again about the future of player-of-the-year Jon Walters, there is understandable concern as to where he will play his football next season. Darren thinks there is nothing to worry about.

After a few stories in January about Jon Walters, it seems that they have re-emerged in earnest now that the summer has come around.

Back at the turn of the year, the club moved quickly to dispell any fears about the future of our star man by getting his signature on a new extended contract. But as with our own transfer interests, January is really the market place for desperate transfer activity amongst those clubs seeking to preserve/improve their status. The summer months are those where the real business is done.

Which is why clubs have now returned to try and make a concerted effort to get deals done. Whilst at present it remains only as speculation, it seems inevitable that somebody will rate Jon Walters as good enough to perform in their side in the Premier League.

This time last year, and in particular either of the two summers preceding that, the club would have probably wilted under the pressure. A big money sale would go a long way to balancing the books, whilst relying on the manager to turn up another bargain replacement from the lower leagues. With a particularly big sale, it might give the manager enough funds to bring in a couple of extra players.

But things have changed dramatically. Not only do we have an owner who has paid off all the clubs debts (at the moment), but he also seems to have a very clear and determined plan to get the club into the premiership. Equally, we have a manager who already has very ample transfer funds at his disposal, which he is so far using carefully.

There is no clear reason to sell a player of real worth to the side. In fact, quite the opposite- it would seem that only exceptional circumstances will force the clubs arm. Those circumstances being either an extraordinary bid, or an unhappy player. Faced with the latter, it is very difficult for the club to hold the player against his will. However, the signing of a new, extended contract just over 6 months ago indicates that the player himself shares the clubs own ambitions. Walters will be here at the start of the season.