negotiating through the media

By: j | January 29th, 2009

However you want to take this, Joe Kinnear is reluctant to let Shay Given go to Manchester City for their present offer. Per the Newcastle Chronicle, the Newcastle manager said:

“We have had approaches for Shay – serious approaches from Man City. Irrespective of all the stories, they’ve offered £5million and not a penny more.”

“We think it’s an insult to offer that for the best keeper in the Premier League. It’s a derisory offer.

“But Shay has made it clear he wants to leave.

“I wasn’t involved too much with the meeting between the owner, Shay and his agent when they tried to thrash it out.

“But as far as I know, the owner and the managing director were unhappy they’ve only been offered £5million. That’s where we stand.

“I don’t want to lose him – I’m fighting a relegation battle.”

It shocks me that this actually received so much coverage today however such is the case with the massive media attention that clings to every comment. That said, Joe Kinnear has done a very solid job in leading Newcastle during a difficult period and has often used the media as a motivational sounding board. Whether effective or not in the past, I’m not sure what he thinks these comments will do but I can assure you they won’t cause another team to come in with £12m offer he was hoping for.

However this is business and anyone who thinks the club is going to receive a premium price for the player when the financial statement of the club is severely battered and they are in desperate need of funds to finance acquisitions obviously has little experience in like matters. That likely is not what anyone wishes to hear but it is straight fact and should be expected. The sole reason for his outburst is to create a siege mentality of the existing squad and try to motivate them but it won’t change any clubs bidding.

The choices for Newcastle are not so simple because it needs to bolster its lineup, particularly with the extended losses of Michael Owen and Joey Barton. The Magpies rest on the edge of the relegation zone and its schedule for the balance of the year is a trying one, including six of its remaining fifteen matches against opponents with sound opportunities for a European berth. With remaining matches against fellow troubled sides West Brom, Stoke City, Middlesbrough, Bolton and Portsmouth they will need to win their spot in the Premier League and do so, will need to make the necessary acquisitions to squeeze out tough points. This unfortunately lends itself to “short term” decisions of economically minded moves for veteran players whose role might not extend past the present campaign.