mizer Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/scottish-football/spl-football/aberdeen-fc/2008/03/07/jimmy-calderwood-ready-for-aberdeen-contract-rebels-showdown-86908-20343066/ Jimmy Calderwood Ready For Aberdeen Contract Rebels Showdown Mar 7 2008 By Ian Orr JIMMY CALDERWOOD will demand to know next week if Lee Miller and Barry Nicholson will accept contract offers or move on in the summer. The Aberdeen boss is desperate for his star striker and midfielder to commit to new deals, having become mainstays in his starting lineup. Miller, who has scored nine goals, and Nicholson, who has weighed in with six goals, remain pivotal in Calderwood's future plans. But they have been reluctant to sign the new terms that have been put on the table. Now the time has come for answers so the Dons boss knows where he needs to strengthen in the summer and how much he will have to spend. Calderwood plans to to have talks with the duo after Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final showdown with Celtic at Pittodrie. He said: "We want to know what is happening and Lee and Barry know that. "We will wait until after the Celtic game to speak with them so hopefully we will know more then." Miller's decision might also sway Calder wood's decision on whether to retain Steve Lovell. The Englishman will find out next week if he has a future with the club - when the manager kick-starts his preparations for next season. The striker looked on his way out, having fallen behind Miller and Darren Mackie in the pecking order. But the 27-year-old came in from the cold in the draw against Mother well and scored against Rangers in the 3-1 defeat at Ibrox last Saturday. That raised Lovell's popularity with the Dons fans and also made the manager reconsider his plans to let the Englishman go in the summer. Calderwood said: "We will see what happens this time next week. "We will speak to different people and Steve himself and I will take it from there." Calderwood admits his side have not performed at their peak this season and insisted the situation is not as bad as has been suggested. He blamed a string of injury problems for the club's plight and said: "We have had a nightmare run of injuries and it has been impossible at times. "We had so many injuries that you are too scared to train the players. "It has been horrendous at times and it is a fact that if you lose your best players then you are going to struggle. "Because of the number of players we have used and the number of games we are playing in it has cost us." One of Calderwood's players is convinced all is not lost and that the Dons will reach the Scottish Cup Final. Derek Young was advised by his boss to book an early holiday after it was revealed knee ligament injury will rule him out for at least six weeks. But Young, back with the Dons for a second spell, rejected the offer because he is desperate to make it third time lucky at Hampden after losing two finals there with Dunfermline. Calderwood said: "I was kidding him by saying his season was over but I knew by the look he shot me that he doesn't think so. "If we can progress in the Cup then I am sure he will be fighting to be back for the latter stages of the competitions. "Derek has been involved in two finals with Dunfermline and would love to play in another one for the chance to get a winner's medal at last. "He is very low at the moment, which is not like him but, hopefully, we can win against Celtic on Sunday and give him something to fight for." Now I'm confused. Did Lee Miller not sign a new contract? Quote
Stewart Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 I can't even remember hearing he had been offered one. Can he not just offer Lovell a new deal and be done with it? There's no way we'll get someone as good as him on the cheap. Really hope Nicholson signs a deal too. Quote
Guest BTR Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Did Lee Miller not sign a new contract? Yes, he did not. Quote
BobbyBiscuit Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 I would like both Miller and Lovell to sign new deals, and perhaps JC can finally see that it would be to our benefit if they were given a decent chance to forge a partnership. Quote
Sharpie Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Miller speaks to a mate of mine in Perth and suggested to him that he is more than likely to stay at the Dons. A possible stumbling block is that Calderwood is demanding that Miller moves up to the Aberdeen area. Quote
stonefish100 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 I would like both Miller and Lovell to sign new deals, and perhaps JC can finally see that it would be to our benefit if they were given a decent chance to forge a partnership. That would be the ideal scenario, but I can envisage neither being here next season and Mackie being #1 striker for the start of 08/09 <shudder> Quote
mizer Posted March 7, 2008 Author Report Posted March 7, 2008 Miller speaks to a mate of mine in Perth and suggested to him that he is more than likely to stay at the Dons. A possible stumbling block is that Calderwood is demanding that Miller moves up to the Aberdeen area. I take it Miller stays in Perth just now then? Quote
Sonoftherock Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Miller speaks to a mate of mine in Perth and suggested to him that he is more than likely to stay at the Dons. A possible stumbling block is that Calderwood is demanding that Miller moves up to the Aberdeen area. This sort of thing annoys me... I really don't see why its necessary! He shouldn't have to move to Aberdeen if he doesn't want to... it hardly takes anytime to drive from perth. In England, outside of London, half the premier league/championship players live in Cheshire, many of whom make daily round trips in excess of a couple of hours. If its good enough for them, it should be good enough for us. I'd love to see the reaction if Gary Megson & Mark Hughes tried to force any of their players to move to Bolton/Blackburn! Quote
Guest ally s Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Heard it all before. I reckon those two will be playing for new clubs by the start of next season. Quote
K-9 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Story freshly stolen from last night's EE. At this stage it seems certain that both Miller and Nicholsonwill move on unless they are just waiting for offers elsewhere and using us as a fall back. Quote
Mackie's ace! Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 I take it Miller stays in Perth just now then? I thought he stayed in Carnoustie area? Although maybe when Derek Soutar said he and Lee were 'travelling partners' on the train in that article he meant he got on around Dundee and Lee came from Perth. Quote
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 At this stage it seems certain that both Miller and Nicholsonwill move on unless they are just waiting for offers elsewhere and using us as a fall back. On what basis? Quote
K-9 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 On what basis? On the basis both have had contract offers since January and not signed them. Quote
Jute Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Story freshly stolen from last night's EE. At this stage it seems certain that both Miller and Nicholsonwill move on unless they are just waiting for offers elsewhere and using us as a fall back. Do not think you are far wrong with this one. If the deals offered were acceptable they would have signed by now. Clearly using us as a fall back position in case nobody else comes in with a better offer. Quote
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 On the basis both have had contract offers since January and not signed them. Which doesn't make anything certain other than they haven't signed a contract with anyone. Quote
K-9 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Do not think you are far wrong with this one. If the deals offered were acceptable they would have signed by now. Clearly using us as a fall back position in case nobody else comes in with a better offer. Which is their porogative. Of course, if AFC had got their act together and put in contract offers well before January then we wouldn't be having this problem and planning and "scouting" could be well down the line for next season. With players still in limbo we still do not know what we need for next season!! Quote
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Which is their porogative. Of course, if AFC had got their act together and put in contract offers well before January then we wouldn't be having this problem and planning and "scouting" could be well down the line for next season. With players still in limbo we still do not know what we need for next season!! Aye, this seems to be a recurring problem. Quote
K-9 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Which doesn't make anything certain other than they haven't signed a contract with anyone. It makes it certain they haven't signed a contract here and have to assume they will not be here next season and must look to replace. Of course they may still sign before replacements are sourced but that is the risk they are taking!! Quote
Sonoftherock Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Which is their porogative. Of course, if AFC had got their act together and put in contract offers well before January then we wouldn't be having this problem and planning and "scouting" could be well down the line for next season. With players still in limbo we still do not know what we need for next season!! Scotty Calderwood will be working overtime this summer if we lose anymore players! Quote
K-9 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Scotty Calderwood will be working overtime this summer if we lose anymore players! Playing for us and scouting. Multi-talented. But back to contract situation. Still not sure who is going to be here next season, with just 7 weeks left of season to go look at potential players before JC goes on long summer holiday. coming back a day before pre-season starts. Bad feeling it will be last minute panic buys again who wont be fit until a month into season. Quote
stubo72 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 I predict (based on no evidence whatsoever) that we will make 2 or 3 very decent signings during the summer and have a far superior season next season. Playing in the UEFA cup was great, but that and an abysmal injury list and loss of Anderson, Hart (and possibly even Clark) have weakened the team domestically. It may well be a case of doing well one season, qualifying for Europe and then struggling to compete on so many fronts once the next season starts... until we get to a point where we have a squad that can cope with both... say in about another 3 or 4 seasons... then we might actually have a bash at regular 3rd/4th finishes and the odd Euro run every other season or so? Well I can dream can't I?!?!? Quote
Guest BTR Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 It's not beyond the realms of fantasy that Lee Miller has been asked to take a pay cut. If any of us were placed in that position, we'd want to hold our cards close to our chest too. Quote
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 It's not beyond the realms of fantasy that Lee Miller has been asked to take a pay cut. If any of us were placed in that position, we'd want to hold our cards close to our chest too. I think that is realistic and understandable to an extent BUT when taken in the bigger picture with the club earning more than ever could have been expected it must be a bit hard for players to take. Quote
Guest BTR Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 I think that is realistic and understandable to an extent BUT when taken in the bigger picture with the club earning more than ever could have been expected it must be a bit hard for players to take. True, but as we all know, the short-sightedness of the board not to speculate on getting back into Europe means they are budgeting for more tough times ahead. Tight fisted, moaning-faced etc, etc. I think it's time for Stewartie to sell off some of his company... Quote
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