According to today's Daily Mirror, Dennis Wise has told long-serving right-back, Gary Kelly, that his career is effectively over as he is now 4th(!) choice right-back for the team, will not play again this season and his contract will not be renewed at the end of the year.Now I cannot be the only one to think there is something just a little bit fishy about this. Kelly is old at 34, but age hasn't stopped Wise signing other players and giving them prominence in the side. He hasn't played brilliantly this season but neither have enough others who are week-in, week-out regulars. I'm also suspicious about him being 4th choice. I'm guessing Richardson and Sa are ahead of him but who else? Foxe? God help us.
There was speculation amongst Leeds fans as to the size of Kelly's contract after a Times article with Ken Bates. It quoted the bearded-one saying that Kelly was on 40k+ a week. Bates had worked out that all the all the prize money and revenue from the Champions League run had gone on Kelly's wages over the last few years. Many slandered Kelly with the charge that far from being loyal to the only club he has ever played for he was merely sitting on a nice little earner. The articel in the Mirror suggests he earns half that and waives appearance fees. Which one is correct?
I wonder if there is a correlation to be had here. No-one really knows how much Kelly is on except for him, Bates and an accountant (maybe Wise) so speculation is fairly pointless. But why not eh? I think it may be that Kelly is due some sort of extra payment based on appearances (a la Seth Johnson) and Bates is unwilling to stump up the cash. Which, all-in-all, is a shame because I genuinely believe Gary has been a loyal servant to this club, can't be blamed for taking his pay cheque each month and would still bust a gut for us if he was on the pitch.
If and when he does leave at the end of this year I wish him all the best, thanks a million and have a bloody good testimonial.
4 comments:
Kells has been a great servant to our club whatever his salary. Lets face it if work offered us all a pay rise we wouldn't ask for less would we.
However although I'll take any stories in the Mirror with a pinch of salt I think both Richardson & Sa should be picked ahead of him. Richardson has waited a long time for his chance and both him and Sa have good pace something we have been lacking.
You can't blame Gary for seeing out his contract. It's the least we can do for all the service he's given the club. Good luck to him I say!
I have found the abuse given to Kells this year a bit rich. No-one plays 500 games for a club without being a proper servant.
But he's been a bit crap for the last few years so it's probably best he goes home. We can't afford to renew his contract anyway.
Gary Kelly is a legend for this club and always will be. He is our first choice right back without any shadow of a doubt. "A bit crap"-anonymous? He was in the championship team of the year last season!
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