Davo - Sheff Wednesday

[SmokinFrazier]

I'm fine with him going, but this is poor man management. He got told on his birthday he wouldn't be offered a new contract, and then because of when his contract ends, he won't get a testimonial? That's not fair, I don't think. He's a club legend and deserves to be treated with a bit more respect. He deserves a testimonial, and no Bolton fan would argue otherwise. Shameful.

Right decision but poor handling of the situation.

I've always liked the way our club handled things. With the Muamba incident in particular, everyone talked about Bolton was different to other clubs and we treated players better. Yeah, we're not one of the best teams in the world but at least we'd be honest and treat staff with dignity and respect. I guess that's no longer the case.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think he should get a testimonial, although he was told when signing the contract that he wouldn't be entitled to one based on when it expired.......

As for the birthday stuff, are you 5 years old? Fecking hell. Folk across the land are made redundant birthday or not. Christ!

[seanworth]

Of course I knew this was inevitable, so I’m surprised at how bummed out I am.

Come to Seattle Kev. Lovely summers. Nice people. Lousy defenders. Incredibly lenient referees.

Agreed. Playing in MLS, particularly at a middling team like Seattle, is going to give him the leadership position I think he still craves.

Big fish, small pond.

[SmokinFrazier]

I think he should get a testimonial, although he was told when signing the contract that he wouldn't be entitled to one based on when it expired.......

As for the birthday stuff, are you 5 years old? Fecking hell. Folk across the land are made redundant birthday or not. Christ!

It's about tact and decency. It doesn't really matter when he got told, of course not, but there's a right and wrong way to go about things. This is poor man management, without question. It's tactless.

And the club - including Freedman - should give him a testimonial regardless of what his contract says. F*ck his contract, he's a club legend.

[Bruce Rioja]

he won't get a testimonial

Are we sure about this?

[seanworth]

I do wish him all the best, and I'm glad I can put the 'S' back in KD.

[Whookam]

He's just been on TalkShite. Gutted doesn't begin to describe how he sounded, he also said the club has told him there will be no testimonial.

[SmokinFrazier]

he won't get a testimonial

Are we sure about this?

Yeah, he said it himself on TalkSport, because his contract runs out 5 days before he's eligible for one.

The reason I mentioned his birthday is because even if everyone on here thinks it's trivial, he didn't. It annoyed him, and probably rightly so. He loved the club and yet the manager is so tactless to tell him he'll be leaving on his birthday? That's not fair, I don't think, and Davies sees it the same way.

Like I said, right decision, but this has all been handled poorly. He deserved more respect than that.

Lets just hope that Davies' influence at the club, being a club legend and captain, isn't greater than Freedman's. If other players in the squad are annoyed, as I suspect they will, that's a great boost for our promotion run in.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think he should get a testimonial, although he was told when signing the contract that he wouldn't be entitled to one based on when it expired.......

As for the birthday stuff, are you 5 years old? Fecking hell. Folk across the land are made redundant birthday or not. Christ!

It's about tact and decency. It doesn't really matter when he got told, of course not, but there's a right and wrong way to go about things. This is poor man management, without question. It's tactless.

And the club - including Freedman - should give him a testimonial regardless of what his contract says. F*ck his contract, he's a club legend.

He's a big boy I'm sure this news has been a while in the coming. Judging by his wife's ill judged tweets he's known the score for a little while.

The testimonial has nowt to do with Freedman. Why not email Phil Gartside if you feel strongly about it? Who knows the decision may not yet have been properly made yet.....

[Beefheart]

Seems somewhat cruel not to give him the testimonial. SJM got one and wasn't here 10 years.

[Dartisan]

He's just been on TalkShite. Gutted doesn't begin to describe how he sounded, he also said the club has told him there will be no testimonial.

Surely they can't actually have said it in those words?!? OK, the traditional thing of holding a testimonial to give the player a retirement pay-off no longer applies, but the obvious alternative is a charitable match where all profit goes to their nominated charity (much as is the plan for Bibi Gardner's)!? ...although Bibi's required a 'committee' to get on with the planning so isn't expected 'til this summer so he might be waiting a while.. http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... stimonial/

He's bound to sound gutted though hey. He'll be coming to terms with the fact, as it is now a fact, that his playing career with us ends in the summer, & he bleeds Wanderers so that's gonna hurt. I would hope in the coming days he'll come to terms with it & demonstrate his ever present professionalism & try to play out of his skin during our final push.

EDIT: ...hmm, just seen the detail about the 5 days before his 'entitlement' to a testimonial. If they don't offer him the opportunity to organise a charitable testimonial equivalent, regardless of a 5 day technicality, that really is feckin' shocking.

[wanderer10]

Surely he isn't all that suprised about it all? He was never going to be given a new contract!

He should definately get a testimonial! Im sure everyone agrees with this and I think we may hear more about this. This is the only part of the whole thing I think the club have handled poorly.

The whole birthday situation is daft, does it really matter? If I were getting made redundant id rather know in good time rather than finding out last minute

[Riviman]

Perhaps if the word "testimonial" wasn't used but something along the lines of "Kevin Davies's XI v Bolton All Stars" with all proceeds to the "Kids for Bolton" scheme.
This may then get round the testimonial angle which I think has some element of tax free lump sum associated with it.

[Tals-biggest-fan]

personally I agree with the club to not re-sign him, we need to move forward as a club. Yes KD is a legend but isn't helping us progress forward, It's a shame he can't retire him yes, but if he spends another 5 years here it'll just be wage money wasted on a player who is past him prime instead of using it on a player with the qualities we need to win games. It's sad that he has to go but we need to progress forward as a club and KD moving on and opening up space for a new, better play is the right thing to do.

On the subject of a testimonial, I'm guessing after Jussi's testimonial where it was largely just a pre season game with 'jussi jaaskelainen testimonial' thrown on top of it i'm guessing the club don't really care to much about that type of game.

[officer_dibble]

Right decision. His time is up.

I'd like to think he gets a proper 'send off' whatever that is in the days of super rich footballers. Cut him open and he bleeds BWFC.

[James B]

sad to see him go but right decision

[Bijou Bob]

A testimonial to further load the pockets of a bloke who has earned millions from us in the past 9 years?? Not a fecking chance. I could see the point of them when they were for players on a couple of hundred quid a week, but when its for a multi millionaire, its just taking the pish.

Thanks KD, you've been fantastic for us as we have been for you and the resurrection of your career when it was all but over. You'll have a place in my heart for a long time. Now go enjoy your retirement.

[BWFC_Insane]

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... s/10314739._/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

Now this won't be popular, but sounds to me like Kevin Davies is throwing his toys out the pram.

Just listened to his talksport interview. Not sure why he is 'shocked'. Surely he could see it coming, his wife's been tweeting about it for long enough.

He seems to think cos he's been here a while he's entitled to a new deal. Try telling that to all the long serving public sector workers who've been booted out without so much as a thought over the last few years. Bet they earned less in 20 years service than Kev did in a year as an average too.

You've been a great player for the club Kev, but don't let yourself down now. It's not like you weren't paid for your work......

[Annoyed Grunt]

“@emmadavies68: Birthday dinner not going down too well #stuckinthroat”

[Tals-biggest-fan]

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... s/10314739._/?

Now this won't be popular, but sounds to me like Kevin Davies is throwing his toys out the pram.

Just listened to his talksport interview. Not sure why he is 'shocked'. Surely he could see it coming, his wife's been tweeting about it for long enough.

He seems to think cos he's been here a while he's entitled to a new deal. Try telling that to all the long serving public sector workers who've been booted out without so much as a thought over the last few years. Bet they earned less in 20 years service than Kev did in a year as an average too.

You've been a great player for the club Kev, but don't let yourself down now. It's not like you weren't paid for your work......

Also doesn't help them c*nts at Talksport making the club out to be complete wankers