Andy Booth column: Huddersfield Town are working hard behind the scenes

Jun 5 2009 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

FOOTBALL never ceases to amaze me – especially the spiralling transfer market.

Even in these days of economic hardship generally, the Brazilian player Kaka is reportedly on his way to Real Madrid from Milan for £56m.

Not only that, but Chelsea have been rumoured to have offered over £70m for him, although they have subsequently denied that is the case.

Even though I have been involved in the game all my life and, of course, was once transferred myself for £2.75m from Town to Sheffield Wednesday, the figures which are being quoted these days are just mind-boggling.

To be honest, when you are talking about paying £50m for one player it’s just ridiculous, crazy, and I’m sure many fans think it’s obscene as well.

With clubs willing to pay such sums, however, that’s the market place and the whole thing just keeps on gathering momentum.

It’s much the same with wages.

Players will always demand the best deal they can get and if clubs want to attract the quality, they’ve got to pay it. Next thing, someone else comes along wanting the same or more, and the whole thing just spirals.

You do wonder where it’s all going to stop and, maybe soon, the various chairmen and owners around the globe will get together and perhaps see some sense.

If they don’t, it’s going to continue to get out of control and, while there is still a lot of money around football, it might not be too long before we see more clubs in trouble and possibly going under with enormous debts.

At our level, quite a few are already struggling, we’ve had our own problems in the past and I just hope the situation doesn’t get worse before it gets better.

On the subject of transfers, Town seem to be being linked with all and sundry in the papers and that’s probably down to agents trying to get other clubs interested in their players by saying we are possibly involved.

All I would say to our fans is don’t believe anything until Lee Clark, Dean Hoyle or Nigel Clibbens are actually telling us who they have signed.

I know they are doing a hell of a lot of work behind the scenes and they’ll inform us when they can.