News

22/07/2008 - Forest: Calderwood on player power

Colin Calderwood believes there will be an increasing turnaround of players at football clubs every summer, as players increasingly make the most of the Bosman ruling.

Nottingham Forest's Kris Commons made the switch to arch rivals Derby County on a free-transfer in July, after agreeing to sign only a one-year contract extension in 2007.

And midfielder Sammy Clingan also took advantage of the ruling to move to Norwich City, when his deal expired this summer.

But Reds boss Calderwood says it is just part of the modern game and that managers will have to accept players making the most of the situation - and cut their cloth accordingly by constantly being on the search for new signings themselves.

"You make contract offers to players [when their deals are expiring] then it is up to them whether they accept them," said Calderwood. "But it is a revolving wheel, isn't it? That is why you are always looking at players.

"And you are always looking for strikers, because they are the most important. If you see a player as useful as somebody like Nathan [Tyson], you try to sign them."

Meanwhile, Calderwood says clubs will have to try to work round a system that increasingly puts more power in the hands of players.

"Players sign a contract, they can have it any way they want," he said. "They sign a contract until 2009 but they want to discuss a new one in 2008. But if we want to talk about a new one in 2007, they don't want to know. It is the way the world is now. It is what it is.

"Things are money-orientated now and if other clubs can afford to pay more, so be it. If the money they are offering is going to change a player's life, then you can't blame them for thinking about it."

Forest make the short trip to the Pirelli Stadium tonight to play Burton Albion in a pre-season friendly (7.15). All money raised will go to the Treetops Hospice.

Paul Anderson will again be missing with a thigh problem that forced him to sit out the pre-season opener against Offenbach Kickers.

He is due to undergo a precautionary scan to determine the extent of the injury.

paul.taylor@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk