Look, I know we’re all in a good mood, but far be it from me to deny anyone an additional chuckle.
Arry Redknapp’s moonlight flit from Queen’s Park Rangers was at best a case of very bad timing. Several supporting witnesses have stepped forward since his resignation to say that his knee complaint was legitimate.
That won’t stop cynics from asking why he didn’t have the wit to quit – prior to the transfer deadline day hubbub – rather than 5 minutes after it? By opting to walk after the window closed, he’s possibly left himself open to all manner accusations – none of which fit his narrative of an amicable farewell. But that’s between Arry and Tony and we can only take what we’re told at face value.
Within what felt like seconds of Arry’s departure, Tim Sherwood was named by every media outlet on planet earth as Redknapp’s obvious successor. I think it was as soon as 24hrs afterwards, Sherwood 1/16 on to take charge at Loftus Road.
The scene was set, the job perfectly teed up. In Sherwood’s previous applications for managerial jobs, we were told that accommodating his “team” was a problem. But Ferdinand and Ramsey are already in place.
Then nothing.
Silence.
Today, interim Tim’s price has shrunk to 1/3 on. If this was a price on say a horse, this is still a broad hint that the nag will win. The only issue might be how far over its shoulder another horse might be at the finish line.
But when you look at the market for the next permanent QPR manager, it’s a real struggle to find any credible rivals. Behind Tim lies a sprawling graveyard of has-beens and neverwasses. Nigel Adkins, Owen Coyle … Christ on a bike, even Paulo Di Canio is in there.
So what’s the hold up?
Vera the Tea Lady at Loftus Road tells me that the problem centres around an alleged claw-back in Sherwood’s severance deal from Spurs. When Tim was ‘let go’ The Independent commented:
The club announced that a break clause in his contract had been activated but Sherwood is nonetheless due the value of the remainder of his deal.”
Vera believes that Tim is still in receipt of monies from THFC in relation this contract, and if he were to accept another job before his Spurs contract is expired, then he would not only forfeit any money still due, but all the payments made since his break clause would be then need to be repaid.
This might sound harsh at first reading, but it would be an intelligent element to include in an employment contract at a football club. It would serve to protect Spurs should they encounter someone who was somehow seeking to benefit from ‘engineering’ a break clause to be triggered.
So that’s where I’m told we are. If Fernandes wants to hire Sherwood, then he’ll either need Tim to settle his obligation to Levy & Co., or he’ll have to pay it himself. Judging by the yawning delay in any announcement from QPR, one can only assume that Tony isn’t enamoured with the idea of writing yet another cheque.
Photo credit: Andy Roche
