Gunnarsson Rejects New Deal. (1 Viewer)

[CovisGod]

:wave:

Gunnarsson rejects new deal

By Covsupport News Service/RD
Updated Tuesday, 21st June 2011

• Coventry City RSS Feed

Agent gives club chance to improve deal
Coventry City's Icelandic international midfielder Aron Gunnarsson has formally rejected to new deal offered to him by the club, but his agent has not ruled out the possibility that he may stay at the club and has told the club what terms his player would accept.

The 22 year old Gunnarsson 's three year deal with Coventry expires at the end of the month and he will be free to move to any club that makes him an acceptable offer. Unlike Westwood and King though, the club would be entitled to a development fee for Gunnarsson as he is under 24 years of age, the size of which would most likely be determined by a tribunal.

Gunnarsson has now returned from Denmark where he was playing in the UEFA under 21 European Championships, but will be leaving for a holiday shortly and will leave all negotiations to his agent Jerry de Koning.

Coventry City asked for a decision from all of their out of contract players by this week so they would have ample time to rebuild the squad should they choose to go elsewhere, but de Koning refused to be pushed and has hinted that if the club try to force the issue he will take his player to another club.
de Koning revealed that Gunnarsson is attracting interest from plenty of clubs including two Premiership clubs, some Championship clubs as well as clubs in Holland and Germany.

He said,

“Coventry offered him a new deal but that didn’t meet with what we think he is worth. We told them that and came back to the chairman with our thoughts. That was two days ago so it is up to them now."

“There is a lot of interest from a lot of clubs in the same league, one or two in the Premiership, Germany and Holland, so it has been bursting out and we are just going to weigh up our options and see what Coventry come back with."

“It’s not that he is not satisfied at the club but I think he is one of the best players in the team, he’s out of contract so they need to do something.”
de Koning didn't rule out Gunnarsson staying at Coventry, but he insisted that the next move must come from the club and when he was asked if there was any chance of him signing a new deal with Coventry he said, “Yes, of course. He’s open minded for everything. He wants to improve. He was very happy with Andy Thorn who did an amazing job last season.”

Jerry de Koning, believes that the club are to blame for the protracted negotiations and that they have messed him and his player about over the last few months. The club was going through a period of financial instability and board room power struggles at the time.

He insists that the new deal is not only down to money, but he also wants assurances that Coventry City is the right club to develop his player. Too many changes have been made at the club to be good for stability ad as for Gunnarsson himself, he has been used by the succession of managers in a variety of positions which have been unsuitable for his skills.

de Koning added,

“There has been a bit of a problem at the club over the last two or three years when there has been a new chairman and three managers, and, for him, he needs some ease and steady environment to keep on developing."

“He’s been put everywhere, at right-back, centre-half, offensive midfield, defensive midfield, right midfield; so I don’t think that is good for a young player and that definitely needs to change if he is staying at Coventry."

“Andy has the right mind and knows him well. He was the one who brought him in as chief scout so I presume he knows his strongest position because you can’t just keep playing a young player anywhere. That’s not good for him but I think Andy will do well on that.”

Speaking about the deadline given by the club, de Koning insisted,

“It’s not an issue. If they set a date that’s fine. We are not in a hurry and as I said before, there is a lot of interest from big clubs in big leagues and if they want to set a date, fine, and we just go our separate ways, but as it is now we are still in talks and waiting for them to come back.”
Gunnarsson arrived back in Coventry on Sunday following Iceland's Under-21's elimination from the competition. He confirmed, “We are still speaking to Coventry but I haven’t made any decision at the moment."

“I have had some interest from other clubs while I have been at the tournament but I am taking it easy now and going to take a holiday and relax, and sleep on it. I am not going to rush into anything. All that matters is playing football and my decision will be based on that, but I don’t know where I am going to end up yet.

“My agent has been in touch with the chairman and Andy Thorn. I have spoken to the manager and I have a good relationship with him, but I have been training all summer and have just finished at the Euro finals so I just want to turn my battery off for a bit and then see where I stand after my holiday.”
Gunnarsson offered hope to the club and to the fans who would like him to stay at Coventry by saying, “I am still thinking of signing for Coventry because I think Thorny is going to go somewhere with this club."

"It is exciting times, we have some good players and I believe we can go somewhere, but at the moment I am switching everything off and see where I am in the next couple of weeks.”

 

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[I'mARealWizard]

He's seen that 2 of the 3 have gone and now he's holding out for the best thing possible.

Sadly, he's possibly unaware that he's the worst of the 3.

I don't think it would be a huge loss if he went, would it?

 

[operationprem]

Let him go, if the offers not good enough go play somewhere else your not that good gunnar. His agent reckons his best player in the team?! When was the last time he won us a game? He should try working for our wages

 

[skybluesben]

Just let him go, isnt worth the time or money.

 

[Ernie Machin]

Have always liked Gunboats, but we simply can't afford to be giving big contracts away. He's not progressed much over the last two years, if at all.

If he can get better money elsewhere, good luck to him.

 

[CovScott88]

In slight defence of Gunnar's performances, he has, as his agent has said, played out of position alot. He came in as a holding midfielder, which is where he played and performed well in his first season. Then he was moved into a more advanced role, out of his comfort zone, and he hasn't been able to maintain his performance levels. Gunnar is much better playing deep, you only had to have watched the Iceland U21's game (before he got sent off that is!) to see that he plays best there. He was the best player on the pitch by a mile. He is a player that plays best when he gets the ball off the defence and distributes it from there.

 

[rob9872]

Decent prospect but far from irreplacable. If he wants to go, then he should. Anyone remember Michael Mifsud who though he was too good? I think he scored in the Champions League final for Barca ....

 

[skyblueinBaku]

One of the best players on the team? I think not! This agent doesn't seem to have any sense of reality:jerkit:

 

[CovLis86]

I think it is a case that if our offer wasnt good enough, then you have to say goodbye. Im pretty sure there will be an adequate replacement who would gladly accept the wages we offered him. I like him, and think he truly loves the club for giving him the chance, but if he/his agent are getting greedy, then its not enough.

Hes always been massively overated in Football Manager anyway.....

 

[Ernie Machin]

Scored the odd spectacular goal, that always inflates the price of a player. I suspect Gunnarand his agent are bluffing, they may eventually accept the deal if they can't get any more.

 

[rob9872]

Lets hope these other clubs are in England so that we get a fee

 

[TheParsonsHose]

He has slowed right up in terms of his performances maybe down to moving him around but not the player we ha say at Blackburn when he scored thy volley. If we cannot afford the demands then bye bye I was willing to pay more for the goals with king in terms of wages but gunner was hardly all that last year for me.

Don't get me wrong I don't want to see him go but his agents opinion is higher than it should be. If there are premier trams watching him it will be Bolton stoke etc

 

[TheParsonsHose]

You gotta love the iPhone spell check

 

[ashbyjan]

Gunnars agent is doing his job and trying to get the best deal for his client (and himself of course). He's hardly going to say Gunnars crap, he's going to big up his client and demand a better deal for the puffin muncher. Gunnar's a decent player and under AT would prosper, needs to decide if a couple more years learning his trade under AT is better than going somewhere simply for a few squid more

 

[Houchens Head]

If he had a baby boy, could he be called Sonofagunnarrson?

 

[Nick]

Yet another agent / player saying that the club is pissing about....

I still think the club may have been at fault for King going.

 

[ajsccfc]

Unless we're really stupid, we wouldn't make initial offers at the maximum we're willing to pay so if Gunnarsson is negotiating with a club that waited until the 11th hour to try and resign him he's well entitled to as far as I can see.

 

[Paxman II]

"We are not in a hurry and as I said before, there is a lot of interest from big clubs in big leagues and if they want to set a date, fine, and we just go our separate ways"

That's the crucial and have to say stupid quote in the statement.
Gunna's a good lad but not key to our plans by any means. If there were clubs from the prem then why are you hanging around? There are so many good midfielders available all on a free so I would not change my stance one bit.

I would seriously look at Andy Reid and Jason Koumas if I was to consider raising my offer - so Gunnarson your agent is doing you a dis-service.

 

[Big Mo]

I suspect we've offered gunnar exactly what he's worth - an average championship salary.

If that isnt enough for him we could use the money better elsewhere

 

[AngryAnt]

Like Gunny as a player, but if the agent or him drag their feet the club should walk away.
No player is bigger than the club and as much as i'd like him to sign, if he wants a bigger paycheck than we can afford then he should go to these "interested" clubs.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Gunnarson is a top quality player at this level and proved it under Thorn at the end of the last season. Players like Gunnar, Juke, Turner and Cranie definitely need to be kept so we can build the team around them. We don't know how much Coventry initially offered Gunnar and if his wage demands are not too ridiculous we should definitely resign him, imo next year if he is here he will have a great season and show us all what he is worth. He deserves a wage which will put him close to the highest earners at the club and definitely more than the "average" city player