Who opened the door? My money is on Janus! 2024 January transfer thread.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

As I understand it (as of this morning) the series of events was a deal was agreed, but Blackburn wanted time to find a replacement. We covered our bases by looking around and were informed Collins was available - we naturally dug into it. Blackburn got wind of that and decided that if we were willing to pay a fee for Collins we could jolly well pay one for Ennis too, so there (cue childish noises) and changed the terms of the deal on the table. The 500k, however, would make him our player - lock, stock and barrel. It's not a 500k loan fee.

They initiated the delay. We can't be held responsible if a better offer landed whilst they dithered around. Seems they are hoping we'll draw a blank on Collins and have to go back cap-in-hand.

thanks Ghost. If Collins completes, I wonder if Blackburrrrrn would still be up for loaning Ennis anyway, to get him in the shop window and cut his wages? We need a defender too, but if Ennis is available - especially if the rumoured interest (Cambridge, was it?) in Bodvarsson is true - we might focus on doubly refreshing the front line. Carlisle went well late on but we were already beating a poor team; what if we go behind at Derby, Posh, Barnsley, Stevenage….?

[GhostoftheBok]

thanks Ghost. If Collins completes, I wonder if Blackburrrrrn would still be up for loaning Ennis anyway, to get him in the shop window and cut his wages? We need a defender too, but if Ennis is available - especially if the rumoured interest (Cambridge, was it?) in Bodvarsson is true - we might focus on doubly refreshing the front line. Carlisle went well late on but we were already beating a poor team; what if we go behind at Derby, Posh, Barnsley, Stevenage….?

I don't know anything about Bod and Cambridge, past seeing it get a nod on social media (Twitter?).

If Jon wants out early and it means we don't trigger his contract clause I could see it, but it's pure speculation on my part.

I don't think we'll agree to Blackburn's terms on the Ennis deal. It's not worth the risk with uncertainty around his injuries. We might be willing to structure it based on promotion and appearances, but Blackburn apparently want their 500k regardless - which won't fly.

I did take note that someone in my Whatsapp group said we were talking to Reading about "players" plural. That may just be doing our due diligence checking on Smith's situation, or it could relate to Azeez. Not a clue. McIntyre seems to have gone, but maybe there's hope.

In other news, Pete O is reporting we're the only ones in for Collins - which was what I understood to be the case as of 7am. Presumably if he's saying that now it's still the case.

[BWFC_Insane]

Bristol local paper reporting Charlton and Wrexham still in for Collins and that we haven’t made any follow up bid yet after being rejected end of last week/weekend.

So lots of conflicting info out there.

Bristol would want talk of others involved to drive price up.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

@BWFCi: Helpful local journo, perhaps?

@Ghost: Yep was just gonna say - not seen much on Bod-Cambridge. Just thinking of the jockeying.

I’m not for a moment suggesting we should bend to Blackburn’s will on Ennis; rather just wondering, if we complete on Collins, if they would drop the demand while still taking advantage of our interest in a player they don’t currently want or need. I can still see that a loan (paying wage %age but not a fee) suits all parties - but us less so if we’ve signed Collins. They may not get many other offers as good.

And yes, Pete O’Rourke is saying it’s just us for Collins, which would help in a lot of ways.

[BWFC_Insane]

Yep was just gonna say - not seen much on Bod-Cambridge. Just thinking of the jockeying.

I’m not for a moment suggesting we should bend to Blackburn’s will on Ennis; rather just wondering, if we complete on Collins, if they would drop the demand while still taking advantage of our interest in a player they don’t currently want or need. I can still see that a loan (paying wage %age but not a fee) suits all parties - but us less so if we’ve signed Collins. They may not get many other offers as good.

And yes, Pete O’Rourke is saying it’s just us for Collins, which would help in a lot of ways.

Local Bristol and Charlton papers contradicting this though.

As for Blackburn they are desperate for new players, manager complaining about lack of options and also have no money. So it doesn’t surprise me. They will want cash or a guarantee of playing time I imagine or both.

[TANGODANCER]

33 doesn't exactly make Collins (or indeed any professional footballer ) Methusala, if they are playing well. Lots of ifs and butts, but if Ian Evatt sees it as feasible, then I'd trust his judgement. We're probably only talking half a season so it's all about finance. I reckon he'll be our player very soon.

[sonicthewhite]

"Also worth noting it looks like Hudds are set to chop the luckless Darren Moore this morning, so which probably means the return of Warnock, who knows Ward well."

He has in fact just been chopped.

[GhostoftheBok]

As of 7am there had been one bid. Our rejected one.

I think Pete O's reporting and their manager's slip of the tongue probably says it's a one horse race at this point.

However, that doesn't mean other clubs aren't interested and things might not change rapidly.

One issue Charlton have is a lack of cash. They aren't seeing any of the CBT fee until the summer and their attempts to take JCH from Posh hit a snag on the basis that they wanted to defer payment for 6 months themselves.

Obviously losing CBT to Derby has left a Collins-sized hole in their squad and that may mean they've stuck a bid in today, I dunno. Bristol need cash to spend, though...so I'm not sure how Charlton pay a bigger fee for Collins than the one they couldn't sort out last week for Harris.

We have cash. We've not been willing to spend much of it until now, but it's there.

This is January. Ridiculous month, full of bonkers deals. Maybe Charlton will once again get a high interest, short term loan to buy a player. They do have guaranteed income from Derby, who definitely won't default if they fail to get promoted...
.

[GhostoftheBok]

33 doesn't exactly make Collins (or indeed any professional footballer ) Methusala, if they are playing well. Lots of ifs and butts, but if Ian Evatt sees it as feasible, then I'd trust his judgement. We're probably only talking half a season so it's all about finance. I reckon he'll be our player very soon.

Collins is 26.

It's Danny Ward who is "33"...except he's 32. I think Twitter got a bit excited with the google machine on his age.

[GhostoftheBok]

*edit*

Local Bristol reporter is in fact saying Charlton made a bid "last week"...I think that's wrong, if he means an actual cash bid, but what do I know?

I do wonder if they offered a similar deal to the one that took Blackett-Taylor to Derby and that's where the discrepancy is.

[BWFC_Insane]

33 doesn't exactly make Collins (or indeed any professional footballer ) Methusala, if they are playing well. Lots of ifs and butts, but if Ian Evatt sees it as feasible, then I'd trust his judgement. We're probably only talking half a season so it's all about finance. I reckon he'll be our player very soon.

Collins is 26.

It's Danny Ward who is "33"...except he's 32. I think Twitter got a bit excited with the google machine on his age.

Ward is 33.

[GhostoftheBok]

Ward is 33.

I stand corrected. Cheers.

[BWFC_Insane]

*edit*

Local Bristol reporter is in fact saying Charlton made a bid "last week"...I think that's wrong, if he means an actual cash bid, but what do I know?

I do wonder if they offered a similar deal to the one that took Blackett-Taylor to Derby and that's where the discrepancy is.

Cawley - who covers Charlton for the local media down there is reporting they had a bid knocked back last week.

I'd say, having followed Cawley a while - he's much more likely to be right than wrong!

[GhostoftheBok]

Cawley - who covers Charlton for the local media down there is reporting they had a bid knocked back last week.

I'd say, having followed Cawley a while - he's much more likely to be right than wrong!

I'll accept that happily.

Did Cawley say what the offer was?

Charlton's interest makes a lot of sense, given the profile of the player they have lost.

If they made an actual, up front cash bid, then fair enough. Surprised, but fair enough.

[BWFC_Insane]

Cawley - who covers Charlton for the local media down there is reporting they had a bid knocked back last week.

I'd say, having followed Cawley a while - he's much more likely to be right than wrong!

I'll accept that happily.

Did Cawley say what the offer was?

Charlton's interest makes a lot of sense, given the profile of the player they have lost.

If they made an actual, up front cash bid, then fair enough. Surprised, but fair enough.

In excess of £500K is all that is said.

Amusing that reading the Bristol forum the supposed ITK account has had to ask ‘when do the club release season tickets normally and how much are they’ plus also said their ITK post was just a ‘guess’ at what could happen. Poor journos on twitter being harangued with totally duff info!

[GhostoftheBok]

Just "in excess of £500k."

This is a mess then.

If that's up front I'm lost on this one. If it's not, I can sort of make all the competing info work.

If Charlton offered essentially the same deal they accepted from Derby and were knocked back, then have essentially dropped out, all the various bits of info firing about today make sense - Cawley, Pete O, natterings and the local rag.

If Charlton are offering straight cash, I don't get it and I don't currently have the brain power to try and sort it out in my head.

[BWFC_Insane]

Jones fit for Australias next game which is both good and worrying news all at the same time. Rushed to hospital for a scan and persistent groin trouble for the last few weeks does not scream ‘he’s coming back in one piece’.

On the other hand I guess a scan must have been clear…..

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

As for Blackburn they are desperate for new players, manager complaining about lack of options and also have no money. So it doesn’t surprise me. They will want cash or a guarantee of playing time I imagine or both.

Must be annoying for the manager that the board have turned down £18.5m for a midfielder. To make that up, they’ll have to f*ck over a lot of rivals.

Or, as I said earlier in the window, pay Ennis £10kpw to play in their U23s.

[GhostoftheBok]

Amusing that reading the Bristol forum the supposed ITK account has had to ask ‘when do the club release season tickets normally and how much are they’ plus also said their ITK post was just a ‘guess’ at what could happen. Poor journos on twitter being harangued with totally duff info!

The life of a football journo.

A couple of heavy hitters were reporting on the City loan to West Ham. One said there was an agreed fee and one didn't. There was a veritable war between fans of the different reporters calling each of them a liar.

Not sure it's worth the money.

[The_Gun]

What about this Max Dean lad at MK Dons? Since coming into their team he's been banging goals in and apparently is now attracting interest from Toulouse. Rumours of a £1m fee, but given he's only 19 that might be a better deal than paying similar for Aaron Collins.

No indication whatsoever that we're interested, and MK I'm sure would rather keep him for their promotion push, but maybe we could turn the kid's head.