Brentford director Phil Giles raged after West Ham target Scott Hogan received phone calls regarding his future on the eve of Brentford’s last TWO games. The Bees’ co-director of football made it clear that he was NOT criticising the 24-year-old striker and understood that it would impact on Hogan’s preparation. The Bees have rejected multiple bids from more than one club.
He raged against the agents in the game who have interfered in head coach Dean Smith’s match preparations with Brentford losing 2-1 against Newcastle and Wigan respectively.
Giles explained: “Before the Newcastle game, Scott was meant to be involved. On Friday night, he got a call saying a club were going to make a bid. It’ll be done on Saturday night. He’s completely distracted. It’s not his fault. He’s completely distracted – it’s not his fault but his focus is not on the game anymore. This week, he trains all week. He had a slightly tight hamstring. He was going to be involved – the same thing last night happened.”
“He got a call saying there were things moving and he got a call and I got a call. No criticism of Scott. He wants to play and needs to play. It’s unfair on him and Dean who is trying to make plans for the game today. The whole thing is completely out of control. The whole system needs looking at. All clubs are getting affected by this.”
He added: “Agents are making the calls telling him you’re going to get a big move, it’s your big chance. Of course, he’s going to get distracted by that. No criticism of him whatsoever. We support him and he wants to play and I support Dean and the way he deals with it. The whole system is completely crazy. He was meant to be involved today and then he gets a phone call. It changes our plans completely.The whole thing is ridiculous. We’re looking ahead to next week – what are we going to do then? We want to pick our best players. We’re paying our best players to play a big game.”
West Ham are thought to have made a offer of £9m for Hogan with £4.5m of potential add ons. The deal is thought to have been agreed in principle but the West Ham board are still awaiting final approval from Slaven Bilic.
Now I´m confused, does this mean Hogan is not Bilic’s first pick?
I feel sorry for the lad, but that’s the way Westham do business I suppose.
I reckon Bilic is still hopeful Defoe will want to get out of Sunderland.This mushie has other offers in for him as well so he will get a moce to someone if he wants it
Although I concede that we need a few signings to beef us up I am not convinced we need to do it this January . Get what we can for that ( @@@@@@ ) and wait for the summer window . Not sure championship players at this stage of the season is the way to go .
But if we do sign I hope it’s more than just a stop gap .
Hogan’s had his head turned?? Well turn it back! He’s not good enough for West Ham …….and nor is Snodgrass.
Since when have been a club too good for these players.I struggle to understand the belief of some that we are above certain players.The fact is we aren’t.Were you saying we were too good for Cresswell,Byram & Antonio when they were playing in the championship.
I don’t believe Bilic is holding this up, you keep reporting it that way who knows if the kid is good enough but £9m for a proven championship striker, if he doesn’t work out you aren’t going to lose much on the investment just sell him back to a championship side.
9 million + add ons i reckon that is fair for a regular champo scorer.Meself i would rather have him than Gestede.Plenty of other champ forwards gone for far more.I expect if we signs him he will be written off by a few because he dont have a flashy name like zaza or calleri
I couldn’t care less what his name is Sticky, as long as he plays better than Zaza or Calleri I’ll be happy. There are a fair few decent players down in the championship, for some reason there are fans that think we are too good to sign players from a lower division.
these fans should take a look at the PL table, with the team we have atm the we are a upper mid-table team
Got a few mates meself essexclaret always taking the mickey out of me about us havin fans who think we are bigger and better than we actually are