Matthew Le God

Amazing how they didn't anticipate the first day of new season ticket sales for a Premier League team after a 7 year absence wouldn't be busy.

They can't really turn people away on merely based on stewards doing checks at a whim as to how old someone is. So they'll also be doing checks of people's student status at the turnstile? Will slow entry into the stadium down even more than last season.

At least with the Chainrai bid the creditors probably know he has the money already (albeit it isn't a lot in comparison to the total debt). If the trust win the bid then they have to collect £900 from a lot of people. I don't imagine they will get close to 100% of the money pledged.

Unless they do ID checks on the turnstiles for each and every game, then ID checks at purchase are pointless and futile gestures.

What are they doing then?

In a similar way to Wotte out, Pardew in during the summer of 2009. Although Dyche did a better job than Wotte.

Evidence for that Dune?

Well whoever writes for the Pompey Pages Twitter account certainly doesn't! I've asked https://twitter.com/#!/npowerstadium aswell, but no reply from them.

No club would bother with a pre-contract unless it was binding.

No club would bother with a pre-contract unless it was binding.

The pre-contract he signed in December 2010 ties him to the club to sign the 3 year professional deal on his 17th birthday.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1582465_southampton-warn-clubs-off-luke-shaw

Shaw, Ward-Prowse, Chambers and Stephens are currently at Champney's with the rest of the 1st team squad for the next week btw (in case anyone cares). http://www.champneys.com/

Simon Peach ‏@SimonPeach #SaintsFC will ignore any bids from #CFC & the like for @Luke_shaw3, I can report. Unlike w/Theo, Bale & Chambo, club will refuse to budge.

Yes, it does! It says in the last paragraph before the personal profiles... "We are proud to be able to list the following players as having signed their first professional contracts at our football club, all of whom have put pen to paper on a three year deal." It wouldn't be from December 2010, it would be from his 17th birthday. 12th July 2012 to 30th June 2015. It was a pre-contract he signed, he can't easily get out of that.

So if he does stay this summer, is the reverse of what you said true?

He has signed a professional contract. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2228492,00.html

No harm done, someone might be interested.

Just in case anyone wonders where I got it from... http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1563532.html?cid=rssfeed&att=

Reminds me of the opening scene of this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hPzoIEBz52M#t=36s

I see how some are wanting to swing this thread into the normal direction. As I said earlier... "I imagine Cortese and Adkins will work very hard to keep him, as retaining such players is core to their overall plan for the future. This will tell us a lot if he stays or goes this summer with the big clubs using the media to kick off a transfer battle. Situation is now different from when Bale, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain left as we now can offer top flight football."

There are Saints players on more than £20k p/w. The Japanese press for example reported Tadanari Lee was on £15k p/w in the Championship and had a 50% promotion clause taking him to £23k p/w.

Do you not think that would play a role? Hopefully it doesn't, but a 16 year old sounded out in the national press by the club he supports...

Luke Shaw is a Chelsea fan, which doesn't help matters.