Steve Caldwell has signed a new two-year contract. Not a very long contract?

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Answers

Age Builder, promise is there, 19 - 21 will prove if he can hack it.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

I suppose thinking about it we should have signed Hamilton, Brady etc on a short contract with a clause to review after a year or something to lessen our risk. Hardly Dalglish's way though was it.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Having said that, I am told that Aaron's new contract is only until 2002-2003, too, which is absurd IMHO. ps. Have you noticed I've taken to calling him by his first name?

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

So what's gannin on here like ? :-))

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

The contracts stop before they are 23. This means that they get to sort out a lucrative new deal with us before buggering off for nothing when the new ruling comes into force. If they were under contract when 23 they could play until their birthday and then stroll. This way they have to put their cards on the table beforehand and either agree a new contract or get sold when we still stand to get something. Hardly fool-proof but the least of all evils: a guy who wants to leave will leave anyway, but we get to agree a long-term deal without anyone else bumping the price up with counter-bids with those who want to stay. Also, if they are crap, we get shot without the Lionel/Brady situation.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

I may actually be wrong about Hughesie. According to opta, he signed a 5 year contract in September. That's a bit more like it. If it's true.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001