West Ham are refusing to break the club’s Under 23 pay code to accommodate demands from midfielder Conor Coventry’s advisers.
The Hammers have a rigid pay policy in place for youth players as was demonstrated when Declan Rice’s new deal was being negotiated.
At the time it was revealed that, before agreeing a six year contract, the England international was earning £2,500 a week which is the wage ceiling at academy/Under 23 at that level of the club.
But as reported by ClaretandHugh several days ago, Coventry’s agents, Base Soccer, are looking to blow a hole in it and want – according to some reports – as much as £5k for their client.
Given that the 19 year old has yet to make a single Premier League appearance, the club are rigidly resisting the demands and will be ready to let any fee be set by a Tribunal should it lead to his departure from the club.
Here we go again… Jumped up, greedy agents… I know little about Conor – sure, he’s a promising prospect, but he is still just that – promising. Not proven, unlike Dec who had already established himself in the first team and was clearly very special.
It’s up to him, and his decision needs to be based on the career path he has set out for him at West Ham. If he doesn’t feel he’ll get the chance to impress in the first team, perhaps he’s not good enough and needs to leave.
Whatever is right for him, but I completely agree with the club sticking to a structure – that’s a requirement for any organisation. Some will slip through and go on to become superstars, but knee-jerk capitulations to unproven players and greedy agents isn’t the answer.
I agree, £2,500 per week is more than enough for a young lad like Conor what ever his ability. Its the agent that need to have a good look on how his running his business. Trying to make money out of a young players talent will not make him any friends or attract anymore young players to his business. Its good West Ham United are sticking to their wage structure for young players.