Stickied League 1 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2024/25

[Luke Imp]

Luke Imp rumours around here that we are trying to sign goalkeeper Josh Vickers.
Is he out of contract and more importantly is he any good?

If he is to be signed as first choice, it will be a departure from our usual stance of signing up and coming loan keepers. (Martinez, Rodak, Iverson)

We're releasing him because, like most others, we can't offer any new contracts because of a lack of clarity about season start dates. Not seen as a big loss by most I imagine.

He's not a Championship 'keeper. Regardless of what's happened, I think we would have been looking for a new number one anyway. First choice L2, bottom half L1 'keeper IMO although if he's coming in as a second choice then he'd probably be ok.

He has a reoccurring leg issue, which has meant he had to change his kicking style last season.

 

[Imp in Branston]

I was never that sold on Josh, decent shot stopper but not commanding enough for me and like a lot of keepers a little inconsistent. I hope he gets himself a club, he is a good guy.

 

[The Terminator]

I work with Josh Vickers uncle. He's not suprised he became a goalkeeper, apparently he has a massive gob on him - comes from his mother so I'm told

 

[Luke Imp]

He if he does, he doesn't use it on the football pitch!

 

[Guernica]

Luke Imp rumours around here that we are trying to sign goalkeeper Josh Vickers.
Is he out of contract and more importantly is he any good?

If he is to be signed as first choice, it will be a departure from our usual stance of signing up and coming loan keepers. (Martinez, Rodak, Iverson)

Presumably that comes from the Andy Warrington link? Did alright, played a blinder away at Northampton in our title winning side but not too fussed he was released.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Presumably that comes from the Andy Warrington link? Did alright, played a blinder away at Northampton in our title winning side but not too fussed he was released.

Be careful Andy Warrington has god like status in Donny

 

[Luke Imp]

We're being loosely linked with GK Kieran O'Hara who's being released from Man Utd next week and has been at Burton this season. He's come up against us a few times over the years (Macclesfield prior to his Burton spell) and impressed.

That sort of rumour isn't a surprise given what I said above r.e. Vickers.

 

[Gas Go Marching In]

We're being strongly linked with Max Ehmer and Jack Baldwin. Gillingham/Sunderland fans, thoughts?

 

[GFC4EVA]

We're being strongly linked with Max Ehmer and Jack Baldwin. Gillingham/Sunderland fans, thoughts?

Ehmer has had his best season in a gills shirt really come on massively under Evans, will be gutted if he does leave

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Max is a good, strong, no-nonsense centre half.
He is also a leader in the back four.
I too will be gutted if he leaves but it seems that Rovers will be one of the few clubs in the division that can spend some cash, so if you can offer him a half decent contract you will probably get him.

 

[Kenneth E End]

So the salary cap is still being pursued by the league of £2.5m. Eventhough it'll give the likes of us or other teams coming down from the Championship a huge disadvantage.

If it was £3.5m-£4m, that would be more manageable, but it is a huge drop for an immediate regulation.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Having a hard cap on everyone is simply stupid especially if its that low. If a club can afford to invest sustainably why shouldnt they be able too? Having a cap set to the lowest common denominator is really foolish, it doesn't encourage good ownership of clubs at all. Just allows owners to get away with the bare minimum without actually advancing clubs off the pitch.

Set the caps to what clubs can afford, encourage clubs to make sustainable businesses off the pitch with the incentive to spend more on the pitch if they can afford to do so. Why spend loads off the pitch if you cant reap the rewards by being able to spend on it.

I would also have thought it would be very easy to challenge in the courts by the PFA as well.

 

[Indian Dan]

Not sure if it is immediate. Can’t see how they can expect Sunderland to shift £12.5m of wages overnight. There’s no need for it either. Just regulate very strongly on the wages to turnover ratio. Force clubs to give up financial information that they’d otherwise hide. Make it a no appeal immediate points deduction.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not sure if it is immediate. Can’t see how they can expect Sunderland to shift £12.5m of wages overnight. There’s no need for it either. Just regulate very strongly on the wages to turnover ratio. Force clubs to give up financial information that they’d otherwise hide. Make it a no appeal immediate points deduction.

This is a far better proposal than a hard cap in my view. Strengthen and enforce the current rules.

A hard cap set on the basis of what seems to amount to a finger the air/sounds about right is overly reactionary. Understand that people want to protect clubs but changing the economics of lower league football in one swoop could be potentially just as disastrous.

 

[Kenneth E End]

It doesn't have to even be that complex. I mentioned it before on the L2 forum a few weeks ago that teams should have to break even over three years (with costs for youth development, women's teams and infrastructure spending excluded). I speak as a supporter of a club who hasn't broken even for probably 30 years!

If they have one good year they can spend more; a bad year would need to be compensated. An immediate 10 point deduction if they fall foul of this as well as a spending cap and transfer embargo. The EFL should be doing quarterly budgetary checks.

The penalties need to be severe because owners are not getting it.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Having a hard cap on everyone is simply stupid especially if its that low. If a club can afford to invest sustainably why shouldnt they be able too? Having a cap set to the lowest common denominator is really foolish, it doesn't encourage good ownership of clubs at all. Just allows owners to get away with the bare minimum without actually advancing clubs off the pitch.

Set the caps to what clubs can afford, encourage clubs to make sustainable businesses off the pitch with the incentive to spend more on the pitch if they can afford to do so. Why spend loads off the pitch if you cant reap the rewards by being able to spend on it.

I would also have thought it would be very easy to challenge in the courts by the PFA as well.

Agreed. It's hardly fair that Accrington are allowed to spend the same amount as Sunderland.

If you look at LTFC - we could lose our best players next season for less than their value because there would need to be pay cuts on relegation and then to meet this cap.

 

[Gassy]

Max is a good, strong, no-nonsense centre half.
He is also a leader in the back four.
I too will be gutted if he leaves but it seems that Rovers will be one of the few clubs in the division that can spend some cash, so if you can offer him a half decent contract you will probably get him.

Apparently signing on Wednesday. If it’s true, this could be a real statement of intent.

Especially as I see Gills going for the play offs next season under Evans

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Apparently signing on Wednesday. If it’s true, this could be a real statement of intent.

Especially as I see Gills going for the play offs next season under Evans

I would love you to be correct regarding us pushing for the play offs Gassy but unless something changes it just ain’t going to happen.
I can see next season being very unbalanced with a few teams like Sunderland, Ipswich, Posh, yourselves and the teams coming down having some cash to spend and the rest operating on a shoestring just to survive

 

[eric read]

So the salary cap is still being pursued by the league of £2.5m. Eventhough it'll give the likes of us or other teams coming down from the Championship a huge disadvantage.

If it was £3.5m-£4m, that would be more manageable, but it is a huge drop for an immediate regulation.

Where are you getting this info, regarding the £2.5m cap still being pursued? Not doubting you, just interested where its come from?

 

[Gassy]

I would love you to be correct regarding us pushing for the play offs Gassy but unless something changes it just ain’t going to happen.
I can see next season being very unbalanced with a few teams like Sunderland, Ipswich, Posh, yourselves and the teams coming down having some cash to spend and the rest operating on a shoestring just to survive

I guess Covid hit you hard then? It’s a good shout, tbh I had (stupidly) forgot the impact it will have on the entire division, since we announced the building of the training complex, debt wiping etc I’ve taken my eye off the ball.

Although I do expect Evans to pull some good players out of the hat, he certainly has the experience to do it.

I think next season will be similar to 18/19 with the top 6 being far far too strong. All the teams potentially coming down look very good for this division.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I think next season will be similar to 18/19 with the top 6 being far far too strong. All the teams potentially coming down look very good for this division.

There was a definite gap between the top 6 and everyone else - but I don't necessarily agree it was just a budget thing. In L2 and the Conference, you can buy your way out - that obviously gets harder to do the higher you go.

Our team this season, in my opinion quality wise across the pitch is superior to ours last year (minus Justin and Stacey who are irreplaceable gaps on our budget). And look how much we have struggled at the level above.

Teams who are coming down (if the salary cap is put in place) will have to make huge cuts both in numbers and salaries; I think if we weren't in the coronavirus situation it would've been a bit easier for us to manage it. Right now we already still owe our players £100,000s in agreed wage deferrals.

Relegation is a financial disaster for us, but we are still in a stronger position than most.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Where are you getting this info, regarding the £2.5m cap still being pursued? Not doubting you, just interested where its come from?

There have been news stories and talk I'm sure; I can't cite something right now.

Edit: From 10 days ago: https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/league-one-set-for-salary-cap-1-6704221

 

[DearneValleyRover]

There have been news stories and talk I'm sure; I can't cite something right now.

Edit: From 10 days ago: https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/league-one-set-for-salary-cap-1-6704221

It’s here too
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...d-salary-cap-plans-League-One-League-Two.html

 

[Gassy]

There was a definite gap between the top 6 and everyone else - but I don't necessarily agree it was just a budget thing. In L2 and the Conference, you can buy your way out - that obviously gets harder to do the higher you go.

Our team this season, in my opinion quality wise across the pitch is superior to ours last year (minus Justin and Stacey who are irreplaceable gaps on our budget). And look how much we have struggled at the level above.

Teams who are coming down (if the salary cap is put in place) will have to make huge cuts both in numbers and salaries; I think if we weren't in the coronavirus situation it would've been a bit easier for us to manage it. Right now we already still owe our players £100,000s in agreed wage deferrals.

Relegation is a financial disaster for us, but we are still in a stronger position than most.

Never said it was down to budget, although it mostly was tbf. Next season is almost certainly will be though.

I’d disagree about buying your way out of NL, there are many teams who’ve shown that not to be the case, including yourselves?

I’m really curious as to how the EFL will implement the cap, if it comes in. Are championship teams really going to be forced to cut 50% of their wage budget over the summer? What about players already on contracts?

It’s a nice idea but I don’t see how it can work in real life. It also creates an even bigger gap between L1 & the championship.

 

[Luke Imp]

Just posted in the L2 forum, but the EFL sound a bit half arsed about it all and the proposed regulations have disappointed quite a few clubs. L1 meeting about salary caps is on Thursday.

 

[PuB]

We’ve seen recently a lot of former championship clubs bouncing straight back up, good for them, but if they’re allowed a bigger wage budget when they come down in future it puts the rest of us at a distinct disadvantage. Not that I’m against the idea in principle, but I don’t see how it can be implemented fairly.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Our squad as it stands includes two keepers, four defenders, nine midfielders and three strikers.

Only counting those with more than 10 appearances at senior level, we have a keeper, three centre backs and seven midfielders - which, curiously, is roughly how Spain started the 2012 Euro final against Italy, which they won 4-0 (just watched a repeat on telly)

We're going to piss this tinpot lea....

Maybe not, but one can dream

 

[Gassy]

We’ve seen recently a lot of former championship clubs bouncing straight back up, good for them, but if they’re allowed a bigger wage budget when they come down in future it puts the rest of us at a distinct disadvantage. Not that I’m against the idea in principle, but I don’t see how it can be implemented fairly.

I agree. Unless they enforce a rule in the the EFL that it's mandatory to drop X % in salary if you get relegated? That way it brings teams in line immediately with the salary cap?

Most likely the top players would definitely want out at that point so too so it'd give those teams a chance to rebuild?

 

[Indian Dan]

Keshi Anderson is off to Blackpool. Decent enough player. DJ is better if we can sign him as replacement.

Hate all the shit that gets spouted when a player leaves. Fucking embarrassing at times.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I agree. Unless they enforce a rule in the the EFL that it's mandatory to drop X % in salary if you get relegated? That way it brings teams in line immediately with the salary cap?

Most likely the top players would definitely want out at that point so too so it'd give those teams a chance to rebuild?

Break even budgeting (with the exception of women and academies) - it's not rocket science. A small team can still lose money if operating on a £2.5m cap.

I.e. the same rules as now in the Championship apart from the fact you're not allowed to lose £39m over 3 years.