Poyet stays cool as Vicente linked with Spain return

5:00pm Friday 29th June 2012 in Albion By Brian Owen

Strong rumours are linking Vicente with a return to Spain Strong rumours are linking Vicente with a return to Spain

GUS POYET last night remained relaxed over the future of his star playmaker – as reports linking Vicente with a return to Spain gathered pace.

Second division Elche are willing to offer the former Valencia man a two-year deal should he engineer a way out of his current commitment with the Seagulls.

Albion have invoked a clause keeping Vicente at The Amex for another season after failing to negotiate a new deal.

The player is thought to be unhappy about that and his agent Victor Oñate met with Albion’s head of football operations David Burke yesterday.

Oñate said he “expressed our position” and hopes to hear back from the Seagulls in the coming days.

Vicente’s team feel Albion went back on a promise not to hold Vicente to the extra year.

Poyet wants to build a team around Vicente and last night said: “At the moment there is nothing strange.

“There are too many rumours in Spain and those rumours don’t help us but nothing has changed.”

Spanish sources insist Elche’s interest is far more than a rumour and that Vicente wants to play for them.

Vicente, whose partner recently gave birth to their second child, remains at home in nearby Valencia awaiting developments.

He was a huge hit at The Amex last season after Albion patiently restored him to full fitness.

However a former colleague has emerged as a key player behind his perceived change of heart.

Fran Escriba took over at Elche recently, his first appointment as head coach.

Escriba was on the coaching staff at Valencia when Vicente was in his prime and gets on well with the player.

Elche are ready to satisfy Vicente’s wage requirements but are unwilling to pay a transfer fee and are relying on Vicente's representatives to find a way out of his current extension.

Meanwhile two of Albion’s home games in the forthcoming season have been rescheduled.

Sheffield Wednesday’s first visit to The Amex will come on Friday September 15 (7.45pm) rather than the following afternoon.

Charlton’s visit has predictably been moved from Easter Monday and will now be played on Tuesday, April 2 (7.45pm).

Comments(36)

mycatlookslikezamora says...
5:06pm Fri 29 Jun 12

You know what? Get a fee and let him go. If he doesn't want to play for the Albion, then he's got to go surely? Massive shame but nobody is bigger than the club...

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MarkBrighton says...
5:10pm Fri 29 Jun 12

yeah.. we dont want him no more.. he should be treating us much better after we gave him a chance last season, and stuck with him despite his constant injuries.. and got him back to fitness.. If this is how he repays us.. then we dont want him. He'll probably get injured again anyway.. Adious

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Gee Jay says...
5:13pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Agree, let him go but get a fee, a contract is a contract. Under the circumstances Albion have taken the option to extend, which, by the sound of things, they were entitled to do.
If the Spanish club and his pal want him, then it will cost. That's called business.

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sidtheseagull says...
5:13pm Fri 29 Jun 12

All getting very boring now - would rather hear some new news about other signings. Does Mr Owen have anything interesting to write in the Argus or are we just gonna get rehashed stories.......sounds like "It's 5 o'clock Friday - better stick something on the web site"

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rusty dave says...
5:16pm Fri 29 Jun 12

So Elche don't want to pay a fee !! Well tough !!!!!. Shrewd move by BHA invoking the extra years clause, pay up or shut up, at least we will get some money back. Well Vicente from Hero to Zero in 48 hours your agent has played a real blinder!!!!.

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Jonathan Mouette says...
5:18pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Some typos can be confusing... MarkBrighton, did you mean 'Adios' or 'Odious'. Thinking about it either could be correct and the two together even better 'Odious adios' ha! ha! Well Gus I guess it may be sooner rather than later that we discover your Plan B...

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heathgate says...
5:22pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Get rid, but make them pay....... players just seem to do what they want these days........ pay up amigos, or shut up.

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Willie, Willie Irvine says...
5:27pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Yes it is getting boring now, especially when at the end of last season he wouldn't return...

The contract issue could get messy, because Gus clearly did make a statement to the effect the club would not hold Vicente to the terms of the contract, i.e. the option. That sort of thing could form the basis of an interesting and expensive legal case, which wouldn't do the Albion or the player much good.

I think Albion will end up cutting their losses.

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Ringmer Rich says...
5:28pm Fri 29 Jun 12

I think it's only fair that Albion stick to their guns. Vicente had weeks to make a decision. If Elche want him that much, then they better get their cheque book out.

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Willie, Willie Irvine says...
5:29pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Correction...
Yes it is getting boring now, especially when I said at the end of last season that he wouldn't return...

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mikeygit says...
5:30pm Fri 29 Jun 12

As I said before we need closure on this one. Albion have done the right thing in invoking his contract and Vicente now needs to be fair to the Club---as we were to him last season when he went weeks and weeks without playing, got paid, and had expensive treatment. if he wants to be back home in Spain let him go but get as much for him as we can so we can re-coup some of the thousands that we must have spent on him. Football fans are fickle and he is now not the player we thought he was in terms of loyalty---so lets move on and get enthusiastic about those Gus wants to bring in.
You cannot sign a contract last year agreeing to certain things and because this year things are different you want to chuck the toys out the pram. Business is business and that includes football. Think Gus and co have played an ace and now Vicente and co are snookered--I hope by this time next week this is all history as I and no doubt many others are getting tired of this one.

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mikeygit says...
5:30pm Fri 29 Jun 12

As I said before we need closure on this one. Albion have done the right thing in invoking his contract and Vicente now needs to be fair to the Club---as we were to him last season when he went weeks and weeks without playing, got paid, and had expensive treatment. if he wants to be back home in Spain let him go but get as much for him as we can so we can re-coup some of the thousands that we must have spent on him. Football fans are fickle and he is now not the player we thought he was in terms of loyalty---so lets move on and get enthusiastic about those Gus wants to bring in.
You cannot sign a contract last year agreeing to certain things and because this year things are different you want to chuck the toys out the pram. Business is business and that includes football. Think Gus and co have played an ace and now Vicente and co are snookered--I hope by this time next week this is all history as I and no doubt many others are getting tired of this one.

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MarkBrighton says...
5:33pm Fri 29 Jun 12

sorry for typo..
yeah I meant adios.. but an Odious adios it is !

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Zamora25 says...
5:35pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Is there anything to stop Vicente simlying buying himself out of the contract. It is only an option and therefore is he even contractually still a Brighton player?

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mark5 says...
5:47pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Time to move on, get a fee and consign Vicente to history. Where are the new signings and who are they Argus? Give us some fresh and positive news and never use the 'V' word again...............
.!

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Baldseagull says...
5:48pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Willie, Willie Irvine wrote:
Yes it is getting boring now, especially when at the end of last season he wouldn't return...

The contract issue could get messy, because Gus clearly did make a statement to the effect the club would not hold Vicente to the terms of the contract, i.e. the option. That sort of thing could form the basis of an interesting and expensive legal case, which wouldn't do the Albion or the player much good.

I think Albion will end up cutting their losses.
I think Gus said he would not hold him to the extension as he deserved the opportunity to play at a higher level.
It is questionable whether a Spanish second division club fits the bill of a higher level though.
I wouldn't be worried about a legal fight over this, what is said is not worth the paper it isn't written on.
I would love to have him here, if he wants to be here, would rather have some cash if he will be sulking about it though.

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Baldseagull says...
5:58pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Zamora25 wrote:
Is there anything to stop Vicente simlying buying himself out of the contract. It is only an option and therefore is he even contractually still a Brighton player?
Yes, he is a Brighton player contractually, the original contract had the option for the club to extend it into a second year, as long as Brighton keep paying his wages, he is our player until this time next year.
Unless the club decides to release him.

I can see why Vicente might be miffed about it though. It was a gamble by Gus to seemingly let him off the hook, and attempt to woo him again, and it seems to have not come off.

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sidtheseagull says...
5:58pm Fri 29 Jun 12

mark5 wrote:
Time to move on, get a fee and consign Vicente to history. Where are the new signings and who are they Argus? Give us some fresh and positive news and never use the 'V' word again...............

.!
Unfortunately modern local journalism mostly entails publishing tweets. I hope as the club moves onwards and upwards the standard of reporting improves to meet the demands of the many thousands of interested supporters. That may require getting vertical and chasing stories - not just waiting for the mobile to beep.......

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Ringmer Rich says...
6:03pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Still think he's the bees knees though...

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Ripe seagull. says...
6:06pm Fri 29 Jun 12

It's funny how he was unhappy with the way he was treated at Valencia because of his injuries. We stuck by him all this time and it would appear that he has been stringing us along!

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fratsomrover says...
6:08pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Not surprised by this really. As much as I admired his talent, I guess it was always on the cards that he'd return to Spain, especially with his wife giving birth. I hope we get a fee for him or at least can retain his registration preventing him from playing for anyone else if he refuses to return to us. We'd better hope Jake Forster Caskey comes good !
On another note, I dont find all this speak from Gus about getting yet another full back signed too exciting. Surely it's an experienced forward and attacking midfielder we require. We failed last year because we had no punch up front. Generally the defense were okay, it's in the final third of the pitch we are clueless. Lets have a signing we can excited about !!

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namgo49 says...
6:19pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Zamora25 wrote:
Is there anything to stop Vicente simlying buying himself out of the contract. It is only an option and therefore is he even contractually still a Brighton player?
I see that as the way forward. He has to be made to pay, say his wages for the year?

It is clear he doesn't want to come here and you can't blame him for that, he has his family to think of which must be his no. 1 priority.

We won't get anything out of him on the pitch if we make his stay.

You have to remember we were all lamenting his signing for most of the season and I am still not convinced his head is right. He has overall a very poor history over the past 3/4 years. He always looks pretty miserable, unlike our Bruno who looks a nice sunny person!

Vicente Rodriguez will drop off the edge of the footballing world by doing what he is doing now. But then it's all about choices!!

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bruce beckett says...
6:21pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Never heard of Elche but they must be okay as they had an average attendance approaching 30,000 last season if the info on the web is to be believed. Not sure whether they will be willing to pay a fee for Vicente but as it's clear the guy has no interest in returning to Brighton, best to agree a nominal fee and put this issue to bed. While Vicente is clearly a cut above Championship level, how many games would he even play next season? Not worth worrying about; there are plenty more fish in the sea.

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tug509 says...
6:24pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Turn it around,if v was to have suffered a recourence of his injuries and we had wanted to let him go.He from all accounts had a similar clause that could have kept him on our wagebill,while he sat on his behind getting treatment at our expense.Not to mention the wages for covering players while out.

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Hugo-Worthing says...
6:27pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Elche average attendance last season was 8000
Spanish 2nd tier have gates equal to our Div 1.....guess that means they are not exactly flush with money!

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Hugo-Worthing says...
6:27pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Elche average attendance last season was 8000
Spanish 2nd tier have gates equal to our Div 1.....guess that means they are not exactly flush with money!

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Hugo-Worthing says...
6:27pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Elche average attendance last season was 8000
Spanish 2nd tier have gates equal to our Div 1.....guess that means they are not exactly flush with money!

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bruce beckett says...
6:40pm Fri 29 Jun 12

I stand correction then, Hugo. Three times to be exact. Why would he want to go there then when he has the adoration of 20,000-plus Brighton fans in his hands?

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falmer seagull says...
6:45pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Constant mention of Gus's decision to invoke the contract extension. This was almost certainly David Burke's!

To my knowledge George Boyd and David Norris are still available!

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namgo49 says...
6:48pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Message to South West Seagull -what happened then - your posts 22/23 June "Nicky Shorey to sign next
week" "Definitely next week" " He will be coming, trust me"

Message to Alfie T "...player to be announced "Gardner from Aston Villa?"

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sidtheseagull says...
6:52pm Fri 29 Jun 12

falmer seagull wrote:
Constant mention of Gus's decision to invoke the contract extension. This was almost certainly David Burke's!

To my knowledge George Boyd and David Norris are still available!
Not names to get the vuvuzelas going..........

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WiseOldSeagull says...
6:53pm Fri 29 Jun 12

He has had a change of heart since the birth of his kid I think. He was probably influenced by his wife and the fact that Elches coach is a friend. He's made up his mind and now we have to sort out the legal ramifications.

Theoretically I suppose he could stay in Spain and take his wages all the way through the legal proceedings. He wouldn't be permitted to sign for another club and so gets paid paternity leave. Win-win for Vicente.

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Rhodes Seagull says...
6:55pm Fri 29 Jun 12

So who will take the place of Vicente?
And what about the extra striker (Greg Abbott admit it will be difficult to sign released Sunderland striker Jordan Cook, who spent a spell on loan with the Cumbrians last season, as he is attracting interest from the Championship.)
Agree with Mark5, Time to move on with news that is more important this saga should be put to bed.

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Gazza by the sea says...
12:55am Sat 30 Jun 12

Hang in there Gus. The guy is a joy to watch. If Mrs V wants to stay in Spain then flex the contract and let him travel home more often. He's worth the season ticket on his own. Some things are worth fighting for......

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ChangeAtBarnham says...
12:57am Sat 30 Jun 12

I hope Gus can persuade him to stay. He's the most skilful player I've seen in an Albion shirt. I'm keeping the faith for the time being and hoping his agent is just playing hardball.

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seagull31 says...
6:41am Sat 30 Jun 12

An annoying story on so many levels. I'm sure things are a lot more complex than they appear from the outside, and a lot of this could be posturing to help negotiation. Taking it on face value for a second it is annoying that Gus pandered to him by saying that he deserved to play at a higher level, why's that? We backed him last year and had an option on him for 2 years, so what did his agent expect? Clearly we were only likely to exercise that option if he played well, so can hardly be a surprise. But then Gus seems to have given them a ready made excuse to create a fuss by appearing to go back on his word (as some have said, probably a decision from in the club, and the right one, protecting our asset!). Guess we just have to wait and see. Brilliant as he is, I can handle him not coming back as think building a team around him is incredibly dangerous given injury record. Most important thing is a new left back and some steel in midfield.

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