STEPHEN HUNT - IS HIS TIME UP?

[Chuckle Brother]

Interesting that Hunt thinks it's down to clubs coming to an agreement.

So does that mean he doesn't have a release clause ? Or does it mean that no one had made a bid that activates the clause ?

If a bid has been made that activates the release clause there is nothing for clubs to discuss (as we have understood it). All you can conclude from Hunt's comments are that no one had valued him at the figure in his clause, and as far as the club are concerned no one has therefore made a bid to be taken seriously !!

Or it could just mean that Hunt is a bit thick.

[Vision]

He may want to leave. Sometimes when I have been doing a job for a few years I want to move on.
He had an amazing start to the season, not quite so good recently, but still effective.
He gives 100% on the pitch.

He is fine by me.

Hunt himself has admitted that his form suffered before the window shut and after it did shut he came out and said he'd knuckled down and was re-concentrating on the task ahead.

His form since early December, at least, has been lacking and I don't think it's a coincidence that it's around the time clubs would've been contacting his agent and sounding him out about a move.

As for Coppell's quotes about it last week, yet again Coppell comes out with pretty dismissive quotes that are carefully worded to make a denial or give the answer that the fans probably want without actually lieing about it. I'm sure the truth is that clubs have made enquiries, had chats with Hunts agents to say we're discussing things with the club, but at the same time these have not resulted in a bid for Hunt.
You can't believe much that comes out of the club or the players mouths as the whole industry is awash with PR and soundbites to feed the media scrum and not put people's noses out of joint.

And the bit in bold is the whole point. Until a club guarantee a sum of 5m the clause isn't invoked. Even then i guess there may well be a grey area with regards to whether this 5m has to be up-front or as a package of sorts.

There may well have been "interest" which Hunt himself believes to be the case but until someone puts up that 5 mill then Coppell and the club are perfectly correct to suggest there hasn't been a bid for any player. Coppell himself said he has had a discussions about players but nothing different to discussions he has about half a dozen times a week himself.

As for getting his replacement in before any potential transfer, well personally I think Tabb was bought as insurance against either Hunt, Harper or even Marek leaving in the window. The club highlighting how he can play anywhere across the midfield indicates their thinking in that regard. Much easier (and potentially more prudent ) than persuading a specialist who is a 1st team regular elsewhere to possibly come and play 2nd fiddle to someone on the off chance they may be off in the next few days..

[brendywendy]

Hes pissing me off.never passes up an opportunity to come out with this shit. Playing worse and worse. The truth is the club cant have been offered 5 million,or hed be gone already as a legal requirement. The hobbit should get back in his hole and concentrate on the only thing that will affect a move-playing football,properly. I really think its worth getting shot,he sounds so gay, like a little brat

[Rawlie19]

As I said to Mr A last night, unlike the last window when Hammond turned out the Mad Stad lights a few hours before the deadline, on the basis that the time had passed when they would sell any player because we wouldn't find replacements before midnight, we won't have that option this time if 'arry gets on the blower offering £5m with 5 minutes to go.

But that clause was in his contract even then, so how could we do that then and not now? I do believe it's not unreasonable to set any clubs that might be sniffing a deadline which is significantly early enough before the actual window closes so as to get a replacement. I guess legally this is not an easy thing to do, and if any club or manager actually wants to screw us over then a bid at 11:30pm is the way to do it.

[Hoop Blah]

Wasn't the turning the lights off line from last January's window?

[loyalroyal4life]

SSC has come out with the opposite view to hunts in EP today!!

Coppell rejects Hunt claims

Steve Coppell has again rejected claims that Reading winger Stephen Hunt has been the subject of a bid.

Hunt last night told journalists that he felt Royals were hiding the real truth behind reported interest from Premier League clubs Wigan Athletic, Everton and Spurs.

He said: “I probably in a way I will be glad to see the end of January from a mental side of things.

“Obviously a lot of things have been said and a lot of things have been denied. It’s quite embarrassing really, but we have to get on with it.

“I know exactly what is happening and it amuses me sometimes when comments come out. It’s shocking and some of the lies are frightening, but what can you do?

“I know there has been contact by clubs. Maybe some people need to go to church on Sunday and go to confession.”

However, Royals boss Coppell once again insisted there has been no offer for the Republic of Ireland international, who has a £5million get-out clause in his contract.

Coppell told the Evening Post: “I can categorically state 100 per cent there has been no bid for Stephen Hunt.

“When we signed Jay Tabb (from Coventry City last week) we faxed them an offer, they accepted it, we negotiated and that is a bid.

“As far as I am concerned an offer is one that is emailed or faxed, not something that is just talked about.

"How can you accept a bid when there has not been one made?

“I or anyone else in the world would say when an agent, manager or scout phones and asks about a player, that is not a bid.

“If you reported every phone call I had then your paper wouldn’t be big enough.

“He does have a clause in his contract, but a club has still got to seek permission and speak to us because he is our player.

"If someone bids £5million then he is free to go if he chooses or he can turn it down.”

Despite the difference of view between player and manager, Coppell insisted: “I am happy with his commitment.

"He is a terrific player and I love him to bits, but he has got to understand that a bid is a bid.”

And Hunt also insists he is happy at Madejski Stadium even if he is looking to play in the top flight as soon as possible.

The Republic of Ireland international added: “I don’t know if I expect to stay. I’m happy here, but at the same time Premier League football is hard to turn down.

“Of course there is the chance of staying and going up with Reading, but only time will tell.”

[The Rouge]

He may want to leave. Sometimes when I have been doing a job for a few years I want to move on.
He had an amazing start to the season, not quite so good recently, but still effective.
He gives 100% on the pitch.

He is fine by me.

Hunt himself has admitted that his form suffered before the window shut and after it did shut he came out and said he'd knuckled down and was re-concentrating on the task ahead.

His form since early December, at least, has been lacking and I don't think it's a coincidence that it's around the time clubs would've been contacting his agent and sounding him out about a move.

As for Coppell's quotes about it last week, yet again Coppell comes out with pretty dismissive quotes that are carefully worded to make a denial or give the answer that the fans probably want without actually lieing about it. I'm sure the truth is that clubs have made enquiries, had chats with Hunts agents to say we're discussing things with the club, but at the same time these have not resulted in a bid for Hunt.
You can't believe much that comes out of the club or the players mouths as the whole industry is awash with PR and soundbites to feed the media scrum and not put people's noses out of joint.

And the bit in bold is the whole point. Until a club guarantee a sum of 5m the clause isn't invoked. Even then i guess there may well be a grey area with regards to whether this 5m has to be up-front or as a package of sorts.

There may well have been "interest" which Hunt himself believes to be the case but until someone puts up that 5 mill then Coppell and the club are perfectly correct to suggest there hasn't been a bid for any player. Coppell himself said he has had a discussions about players but nothing different to discussions he has about half a dozen times a week himself.

As for getting his replacement in before any potential transfer, well personally I think Tabb was bought as insurance against either Hunt, Harper or even Marek leaving in the window. The club highlighting how he can play anywhere across the midfield indicates their thinking in that regard. Much easier (and potentially more prudent ) than persuading a specialist who is a 1st team regular elsewhere to possibly come and play 2nd fiddle to someone on the off chance they may be off in the next few days..

He is playing worse than he was.
Last night his dead balls were v bad and he was visibly upset with himself.
In open play he was combative, effective and played pretty well in my book.
Do I think he is giving 100%? Yes. As a fan, that is all I ask - everything else is up to the manager.
As I say, he is ok by me.

[Stranded]

Well, you can take this with a pinch of salt - but my flatmate who works at the ground on matchdays has said he was speaking to Hunt's dad last night. Hunt has a 4.5 year deal on the table from a club he wouldn't name (am guessing Wigan) but that his dad is trying to persuade him to stay.

[Royal Lady]

Anyone who offers £5 million for Hunt deserves him. AND he needs to get his hair cut, it keeps getting in his face. I 100% believe Copps. SHunt is just being a bit thick.

[Hoop Blah]

Well that's a clearer denial from Coppell and pretty much as expected, he's calling a bid an official written offer, which is fair enough.

I'm sure in the world of the player and agent a firm enquiry is just as interesting though.

I'm sure that Coppell's quotes last week were a little more along the lines of 'no enquiry' than 'no bid' but it's only to be expected and he's only doing it to keep the players on their toes I guess.

[philM]

So basically SHunt has called Coppell a liar (the "confession" comment) and SC is now having to deny it to the press.

What worries me more than who lied or didnt lie is when I see players taking grievences to the press, because you know then that SC has lost part of the dressing room. We saw it with Leroy, Shorey and with Kits and we saw how corrosive it was to the cohesion of the team.

If SHunt feels so pissed off that he wants to winge to journalists about his job at RFC rather than talk to his boss then it's time for him to go.

Up until this point I wanted him to stay and commit 100% up to the summer, although I didn't expect him to.

Now I hope he goes, very soon.

[readingbedding]

Kill the Pig.
Slash his throat.
Spill his blood.

[The Rouge]

So basically SHunt has called Coppell a liar (the "confession" comment) and SC is now having to deny it to the press.

What worries me more than who lied or didnt lie is when I see players taking grievences to the press, because you know then that SC has lost part of the dressing room. We saw it with Leroy, Shorey and with Kits and we saw how corrosive it was to the cohesion of the team.

If SHunt feels so pissed off that he wants to winge to journalists about his job at RFC rather than talk to his boss then it's time for him to go.

Up until this point I wanted him to stay and commit 100% up to the summer, although I didn't expect him to.

Now I hope he goes, very soon.

I know what yiu are saying but I wouldn't call any of Shorey's comments corrosive.

[Dirk Gently]

I think you are forgetting the agents in all of this - never forget the only time they make money is when a player moves.

[Royal Monk]

Kill the Pig.
Slash his throat.
Spill his blood.

A slight over reaction there

[readingbedding]

Well he's leading all of us down the garden path isn't he?
How dare, he keep his options open, yet still produce decent performances for us.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Well he's leading all of us down the garden path isn't he?
How dare, he keep his options open, yet still produce decent performances for us.

Exactly, it's not as if anyone else did this for us in the last few seasons. Oh....

[philM]

What should have happened....

SHunt: Hello dere Boss. Top o' the morning to you.

SC: Good evening Steven, how are you tonight?

SHunt: Well now. There this ting Boss.. I taught dat Wigan phoned asking aall about the purchasin' of me.
Well, today I was leafin true the tabloidies and I saw where you said nobody had called up like...
And.. well as I say, I taught dey had. Called up, n that...
*SHunt scratches neck*

SC: Oh Steven!
*SC ruffles SHunt's hair*

SC: They can't afford you. They only offered some used equipment for the Academy, some footballs and
some old goalposts I think. You're not going anywhere.
*much laughter and backslapping*


WHAT REALLY HAPPENED...


SHunt: RIGHT. DATS IT. IF NOBODY WANTS ME IT MUST BE BECAUSE THEY HAVENT HEARD OF ME.
*ponders*
OI COPPELL! YA LYING BARSTEWARD! OIM CALLIN THE PRESS! BOSS IN SHOCK LIE HORROR SCANDAL!!
HUNT STILL AVAILABLE DESPITE LOADS AND LOADS O' OFFERS STILL FLOODIN IN! BEJAAAZUS!
etc etc

[Silver Fox]

If you ask me Stephen Hunt is no better than Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross

[readingbedding]

A live hanging would surely temper the RFC fans for his constant dishonesty, dragging this fine club through the mire.