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Management Relegation

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Do you think we'll stay up?

  • Yes

    Votes: 184 40.1%
  • No

    Votes: 275 59.9%

  • Total voters
    459
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You are 100% wrong. Read the attachment

He is not "100% wrong" at all - if he was, why do you think players don't do this more often? Why didn't Kane leave when he wanted to? There are lots of stipulations around that Webster case, including big financial implications (costs for the player I mean) and lengthy playing sanctions if you leave at a time not in the appropriate period. I think you need to read up a lot more about it...
 
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This has nothing to do with the gravitas of what would happen, I think it would be an absolute disaster for us to go down - but it wouldn't give contracted players any more power than they have now, as they are under contract, and we of all clubs have demonstrated before that we will hold a player to a contract for as long as we want to if we so choose. Relegation doesn't change contract law.

But just for info (as tbh I'm absolutely bemused by your apparent inability to understand how contracts work), let's say I'm a player with 3 years left on my contract and I want to leave because we get relegated and my wages are reducing by 50%, I tell the club I want to leave, they say "you're going nowhere unless we get £50m for you, and no one has bid that, so as you are under contract here for another 3 years, you're staying for this season at least". In that scenario, what do you think the player or agent can / would say? (Bearing in mind that the Kane brothers have already tried to 'cheat' this once, and utterly failed, having to wait the extra whole season that Levy wanted). How on earth has the power balance changed? It hasn't at all - they have no power.

Hopefully we don’t find out but it isn’t looking good
 
You are 100% wrong. Read the attachment


The Webster ruling is rarely used and if used the player has to play compensation in the millions. Also I believe it has conditions.

Edit: checked now on AI the below cannot use this:

Players Who Cannot Use Webster in Summer 2026


These players have contracts running beyond 30 June 2026, so their protected period (usually 3 years for those signed before age 28) has not fully expired yet. They cannot force an early exit without breaching the contract (which risks a ban and higher penalties). Relegation does not shorten the protected period.


• Archie Gray — Contract until 2030; signed recently (before age 28) → protected period still running (ends ~2027).


• Lucas Bergvall — Contract until 2031; new long-term deal → protected period runs until ~2028.


• Radu Dragusin — Contract until 2030; signed before 28 → protected until ~2027.


• Destiny Udogie — Contract until 2030; signed ~2023 → protected period not expired for early termination.


• Cristian Romero — Contract until 2029; recent extension → protected period ongoing.


• Micky van de Ven — Contract until 2029; signed before 28 → protected until ~2026/27.


• Pedro Porro — Contract until 2028 → protected period not over for unilateral exit.


• James Maddison — Contract until 2028 → still protected.


• Dejan Kulusevski — Contract until 2028 → protected period active.


• Dominic Solanke — Contract until 2030 → long-term deal, protected ongoing.


• Mohammed Kudus — Contract until 2030 → signed recently, protected until ~2028.


• Xavi Simons — Contract until 2030/31 → new deal, protected period running.


• Conor Gallagher — Contract until 2031 → long-term, not eligible yet.


• Pape Matar Sarr — Contract until 2030 → protected period not expired.


• Wilson Odobert — Contract until 2029 → recent signing, protected ongoing.


• Mathys Tel — Contract until 2031 (or loan-related) → not eligible for Webster exit.


• Guglielmo Vicario — Contract until 2028 → protected period active.


• Djed Spence — Contract until 2028 → still protected.


• Richarlison — Contract until 2027 → protected period not fully over for early termination.


• Dane Scarlett — Contract until 2026/27 → borderline but generally cannot force early Webster.


• Most other senior/young squad players with deals to 2027–2031 (e.g. Antonin Kinsky to 2031, Kevin Danso, Kota Takai, etc.) — same reason: contracts extend beyond 2026 and protected periods are still in force.
 
He is not "100% wrong" at all - if he was, why do you think players don't do this more often? Why didn't Kane leave when he wanted to? There are lots of stipulations around that Webster case, including big financial implications (costs for the player I mean) and lengthy playing sanctions if you leave at a time not in the appropriate period. I think you need to read up a lot more about it...
The posting I made was in response to them saying there wasn’t any process when there clearly is.

There was a recent ruling following a case involving Diarra. That ruling in essence appears to have removed third party ( new club) being made jointly and severally liable to pay compensation. If outside the protected period and notice is given in the appropriate window then it fits the criteria of sporting just cause meaning there isn’t any playing sanctions.

There isn’t a clearly defined table in terms of compensation indeed at CAS there hasn’t been any consistent approach however following that ruling it is thought that FIFA will have to respond but irrespective some have believed that there will be several applications at the end of the 25/26 season.

Finally the view of some, and I subscribe to that viewpoint, is that players have indeed used the threat of invoking Article 17 if the club don’t agree to accept offers for a player the likelihood is that any compensation will be significantly less than the fee they would receive.

Read this article re Isak

 
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The posting I made was in response to them saying there wasn’t any process when there clearly is.
Aha, I thought you were challenging his whole post, not just that point - apologies.

There was a recent ruling following a case involving Diarra. That ruling in essence appears to have removed third party ( new club) being made jointly and severally liable to pay compensation. If outside the protected period and notice is given in the appropriate window then it fits the criteria of sporting just cause meaning there isn’t any playing sanctions.

There isn’t a clearly defined table in terms of compensation indeed at CAS there hasn’t been any consistent approach however following that ruling it is thought that FIFA will have to respond but irrespective some have believed that there will be several applications at the end of the 25/26 season.

Finally the view of some, and I subscribe to that viewpoint, is that players have indeed used the threat of invoking Article 17 if the club don’t agree to accept offers for a player the likelihood is that any compensation will be significantly less than the fee they would receive.

Read this article re Isak

However there are still clearly lots of stipulations around this, so the idea that most of our players can jus decide to leave is nonsense (I know you've not said that, but others have, and is what I and Tomo have been trying to refute).

I will read the article later, but for I just Googled "Did Isak use Artical 17 to leave Newcastle, and the answer provided was:


***********
The short answer is no, Alexander Isak did not use the Webster Ruling to leave Newcastle. In fact, his transfer to Liverpool in September 2025 is a textbook example of why the Webster Ruling is almost never used by top-tier players.

Instead of "buying out" his contract for a small fee, Isak was sold for a British-record transfer fee of £125 million.

Why the Webster Ruling Wasn't Used​

While there was media speculation during the "Isak saga" in the summer of 2025 that he could eventually use the ruling, he didn't for two main reasons:

  1. Timing (The "Protected Period"): Isak joined Newcastle in August 2022. Because he was under 28 at the time, his 3-year "Protected Period" didn't expire until the end of the 2024/25 season. The earliest he could have legally invoked the Webster Ruling was June 2025.
  2. The "Nuclear Option" Stigma: If Liverpool had encouraged Isak to use the Webster Ruling, they would have only had to pay Newcastle a fraction of his value (likely his remaining wages, around £20M–£30M). However, doing so would have invited a massive legal war and destroyed Liverpool’s relationship with other clubs.
*****

Now, I know internet isn't always reliable, but there's nothing there that sounds unlikely or unreasonable... So yes, it seems there definitely is a process, you're right about that, but also it seems that process is hardly ever used, so seems unlikely to be a conduit for lots our players to leave the club in 3 months' time without the club's approval - which is what the conversation of the last few pages has revolved around. :)
 
I personally think we would keep roughly the below with Vuskovic and Simons on loan out then buy a few to sort out wing, DM, full back and striker.

GK (Goalkeepers)

Antonín Kinský
• Brandon Austin
• Luca Gunter

Full backs (RB/LB/Wing-backs)

• João Victor de Souza
Djed Spence
• Ben Davies now a CB really

CB (Centre-backs)

• Kevin Danso
• Jun’ai Byfield
Luka Vušković (on loan) will not be at the club next year, get real no matter how much you love him
• Ashley Phillips
• Kota Takai (on loan)

MF (Central/Defensive Midfielders)

• Pape Matar Sarr
• Archie Gray
• Lucas Bergvall
• Conor Gallagher
• Alfie Devine

AM (Attacking Midfielders)

• James Maddison
• Xavi Simons (loan)
Dejan Kulusevski career is over
• Jamie Donley
• Luca Williams-Barnett

Wingers (LW/RW)

• Wilson Odobert
• Yang Min-hyeok (on loan)
• Mikey Moore

Striker (Forwards/Strikers)

Dane Scarlett
• Will Lankshear
 
Aha, I thought you were challenging his whole post, not just that point - apologies.


However there are still clearly lots of stipulations around this, so the idea that most of our players can jus decide to leave is nonsense (I know you've not said that, but others have, and is what I and Tomo have been trying to refute).

I will read the article later, but for I just Googled "Did Isak use Artical 17 to leave Newcastle, and the answer provided was:


***********
The short answer is no, Alexander Isak did not use the Webster Ruling to leave Newcastle. In fact, his transfer to Liverpool in September 2025 is a textbook example of why the Webster Ruling is almost never used by top-tier players.

Instead of "buying out" his contract for a small fee, Isak was sold for a British-record transfer fee of £125 million.

Why the Webster Ruling Wasn't Used​

While there was media speculation during the "Isak saga" in the summer of 2025 that he could eventually use the ruling, he didn't for two main reasons:

  1. Timing (The "Protected Period"): Isak joined Newcastle in August 2022. Because he was under 28 at the time, his 3-year "Protected Period" didn't expire until the end of the 2024/25 season. The earliest he could have legally invoked the Webster Ruling was June 2025.
  2. The "Nuclear Option" Stigma: If Liverpool had encouraged Isak to use the Webster Ruling, they would have only had to pay Newcastle a fraction of his value (likely his remaining wages, around £20M–£30M). However, doing so would have invited a massive legal war and destroyed Liverpool’s relationship with other clubs.
*****

Now, I know internet isn't always reliable, but there's nothing there that sounds unlikely or unreasonable... So yes, it seems there definitely is a process, you're right about that, but also it seems that process is hardly ever used, so seems unlikely to be a conduit for lots our players to leave the club in 3 months' time without the club's approval - which is what the conversation of the last few pages has revolved around. :)
The thrust as much as anything in the article wasn’t that Isak would get his wishes if not in 25/26 by way of transfer or he would likely threaten it’s usage come the end of the season. Did he threaten to use the ruling if he didn’t get his own way ?
Apply that to players who are outside the protected period in May/June or will be in 12 months time.

The numbers in that article in terms of what level of compensation would likely be payable as opposed to the fee that Liverpool were offerIng is staggering.

Not a given by any means but forcing a player to remain at a club if they want out rarely works out well

The removal of clubs liability changes the landscape significantly and as we know there is another window of opportunity to apply sporting just cause meaning in a month or so.
 
This has been coming for 2.5 years.
Sticking with Ange in the summer of 2024 is as catastrophic as some of us thought it would be. Actually worse.

In the 22/23 season we had 14 losses. Fourteen. Conte's second season. With prime Kane and Son.

Fourteen losses. With prime Kane and Son.

The idea that what is happening now began with Ange Postecoglou or was caused by him - and not the managed decline of our squad by our owners and Powers that Be - is cowardly horseshit peddled by Deranger fuckwits like you who spent the entire Postecoglou years bullying and abusing normal fans simply for supporting the manager.

Well you got what you asked for. And now we're going down.

Own it.
 
In the 22/23 season we had 14 losses. Fourteen. Conte's second season. With prime Kane and Son.

Fourteen losses. With prime Kane and Son.

The idea that what is happening now began with Ange Postecoglou or was caused by him - and not the managed decline of our squad by our owners and Powers that Be - is cowardly horseshit peddled by Deranger fuckwits like you who spent the entire Postecoglou years bullying and abusing normal fans simply for supporting the manager.

Well you got what you asked for. And now we're going down.

Own it.

Like Pat Jennings said in ‘77 ; “ this started three years ago “ .

It’s a classic case of things happening gradually then suddenly .
 
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