HARRIS SPEAKS OUT ABOUT HOW TOUGH THE TRANSFER MARKET IS

Neil Harris has made no bones about the fact he wants to add at least one or two more fresh faces before the October 16 domestic deadline, but offered a stark insight into just how difficult it has been to deal in the transfer market in these most unprecedented of times.

Sunday 4th October 2020


NEIL HARRIS:

"I don’t want to paint too negative a picture, but it has been really tough."

"A big selling point of Cardiff City for me is the fan base, the atmosphere and the noise of the Welsh people at the games.

"I think back to my first Welsh derby against Swansea City and it was a real event, even if it wasn’t much of a game. So, that selling point is not there at the moment."



"There is also definitely nervousness within the market. The football market is like the housing market – it can fluctuate. One minute you can be buying a house and the next minute you’re not because it falls through.

"That has been the case more than ever in this window. Things are changing all the time. One minute someone is available because a club needs to get them off the wage bill. The next, they’re not available because somebody else has moved to another club, so cash flow is OK for another month.

"This isn’t just testing for the manager. It’s testing for the players, too. With Callum Paterson, it was a case of, ‘is he going? Is he not going?’ And there are a lot of transfers like that at the moment.

"Owners’ businesses can be really up and down as well in the financial markets. And I’m not just talking about Vincent [Tan, the owner] and Mehmet here, but owners across the board are finding that where they were going to buy a League One player for 400,000 they now can’t do it because the owner’s business has gone into recession."

"It really is a strange time and on the back of last season – and the quick turnaround – I’d say it has been a very different transfer window."

The point Harris makes about not being able to sell the prospect of playing in front of Cardiff fans or the fierceness of a South Wales derby is a pertinent one.

The passionate fan bases in the Championship and below are so often used to attract the top talent in the division and not having the pull power of the supporters is doubtless a big drawback.

That doesn't appear to have impacted the Premier League clubs though, as one would perhaps expect.

The Premier League is still enjoying the riches of lucrative TV revenue, both from domestic and overseas broadcast deals, and we continue to see eye-watering sums of money changing hands for players.

This transfer window, perhaps more than any other which has come before it, highlights the financial chasm between clubs in the top flight and those below, some of which, especially in League One and League Two, are battling to keep afloat.

"It still surprises me that when we are talking about a recession and job cuts and then it flashes up on screen that a club wants to spend £80m or £90m on a player," Harris said.

"Football in the Premier League is living a bubble. But the Championship is not immune to the harshness of reality at the moment – what is happening in the outside world.

"We know that the Premier League is governed by TV revenue, with overseas rights and the sponsorship deals, and so they can still spend.

"In the EFL, it is completely different."



Harris has seen one big shift below the Premier League, though, and that is the clubs grabbing the power back from agents and players.

"It’s touching on agents’ expectations as well," he added. "You think you’re about to do a deal, but it gets scuppered by the wage demands of a player who is out of contract.

"But I think agents are coming around to the idea that clubs are going to be dictating now. The clubs are not going to be paying the ludicrous wages they were paying six or 12 months ago.

"I don’t see much changing in the next couple of weeks. But I hope that future windows adjust again, because that will mean that life is on the up again."

And that is certainly a sentiment every football fan would welcome: Life back on the up again.

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Dalman finally speaks out

Dalman finally speaks out

Part 2 to follow c.11pm on Monday just after we haven't signed anyone despite early rhetoric, I'm sure...!

Dalman finally speaks out

Part 2 to follow c.11pm on Monday just after we haven't signed anyone despite early rhetoric, I'm sure...!

Chris,
I can see it happening , those are Dalmans type of words.

Dalman finally speaks out

Your probably spot on

Dalman finally speaks out

Your probably spot on

Harris definitely regurgitating the words of his master. I'm going to give Harris the nickname HMV

Dalman finally speaks out

Part 2 to follow c.11pm on Monday just after we haven't signed anyone despite early rhetoric, I'm sure...!

Chris... domestic transfer window open until 16th? So dont have to say we tried ect to get players in on Monday !
But not expecting any signings

Last edited by pembroke allan on Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

Dalman finally speaks out

Part 2 to follow c.11pm on Monday just after we haven't signed anyone despite early rhetoric, I'm sure...!

we can still buy/ loan players beyond Monday.. the close of the window only applies to premier league clubs buying players from other premier league clubs or from abroad... we can still buy or loan from premier league clubs.. and EFL clubs up until the 16th.,..and of course sign free agents { there will be far more than normal } after that date..

Dalman finally speaks out

Your probably spot on

Harris definitely regurgitating the words of his master. I'm going to give Harris the nickname HMV

HMV ..

It doesn't really matter who you think is saying it,the content is true regardless.Convincing players and agents the gravy train is over for a while is something they'll have to take on board sooner rather than later.

Some people on this board need to get a bit of realism in there lives,we are relying on 36milion TV money that probably will only just cover the wage bill , we have no match day income ,no hospitality income,not much sponsorship income the country is in the worst recession in living memory ,and they think we should be spending massive amounts on players ,come on ffs get real

Some people on this board need to get a bit of realism in there lives,we are relying on 36milion TV money that probably will only just cover the wage bill , we have no match day income ,no hospitality income,not much sponsorship income the country is in the worst recession in living memory ,and they think we should be spending massive amounts on players ,come on ffs get real

i think most hope a few reinforcements arrive ..but certainly are not expecting it..
your spot on about the some people and realism bit though. going out in a t shirt and shorts determined to not admit its raining is not realism..

Some people on this board need to get a bit of realism in there lives,we are relying on 36milion TV money that probably will only just cover the wage bill , we have no match day income ,no hospitality income,not much sponsorship income the country is in the worst recession in living memory ,and they think we should be spending massive amounts on players ,come on ffs get real

i think most hope a few reinforcements arrive ..but certainly are not expecting it..
your spot on about the some people and realism bit though. going out in a t shirt and shorts determined to not admit its raining is not realism..

The board as gone back to sniping at club there are several such posts on here..... yes we would all like new players but always easier said and done? But as Harris eluded to agents and players are going to have to get real regarding wages! Not sure if will sign anyone now but let's see what jan window brings to me that could be more important than this window.

Some people on this board need to get a bit of realism in there lives,we are relying on 36milion TV money that probably will only just cover the wage bill , we have no match day income ,no hospitality income,not much sponsorship income the country is in the worst recession in living memory ,and they think we should be spending massive amounts on players ,come on ffs get real

Totally agree with you Wez. Unfortunately the views expressed by some are symptomatic of a certain section of society in that if they can't get what they want now, the dollies get thrown out of the pram.

The club has done remarkably well in recent times and we all want it to continue. But step away for a moment and consider the implications of this pandemic on football and on people's lives throughout the world. Is team strengthening at this time really such a major issue ?

Some people on this board need to get a bit of realism in there lives,we are relying on 36milion TV money that probably will only just cover the wage bill , we have no match day income ,no hospitality income,not much sponsorship income the country is in the worst recession in living memory ,and they think we should be spending massive amounts on players ,come on ffs get real

i think most hope a few reinforcements arrive ..but certainly are not expecting it..
your spot on about the some people and realism bit though. going out in a t shirt and shorts determined to not admit its raining is not realism..

The board as gone back to sniping at club there are several such posts on here..... yes we would all like new players but always easier said and done? But as Harris eluded to agents and players are going to have to get real regarding wages! Not sure if will sign anyone now but let's see what jan window brings to me that could be more important than this window.

You are spot on allan,there are numerous threads,with the same posters,just looking for a scab to pick! The world is in a financial pickle,but we should be plashing the cash in a bid to get promoted still? And if we don't achieve it,then what? Blame the owner cos the debt is too high again

The same posters bang on about how warnock united the club,but continue to have a dig,at the drop of a hat.what Harris or whoever you choose to believe has said,is the reality of the situation,is that anyone's fault in particular? ?

The window is still open,and who knows what may happen,certainly not me.as you rightly point out,no income for the season regards hospitality, which will leave a what?£500,000 hole for each home game without fans or close to it,times that by 23,so could lose close to 12m there alone! Plus there is the sala fee to consider,which some seem to forget,if we lose that case.

Dalman finally speaks out

Part 2 to follow c.11pm on Monday just after we haven't signed anyone despite early rhetoric, I'm sure...!

Chris,
I can see it happening , those are Dalmans type of words.

I don't think anyone is fooled anymore, Annis