Goldienz
You asked
Warts and all answer…
The Mariners just before the change in ownership went about four weeks were players where not paid. The group coaches and players stuck it out. In return the club said reasonable requests will be granted.
McGlinchey is one of the players that stood by the club in these hard times. Further the Mariners have an always said they would release players to overseas club if it was a benefit to the player.
McGlinchey arrived at the Mariners with his career at a crossroad, constant injury had plagued his career and most clubs would not touch him. To soft and not strong enough were the words used to describe him at this part of his career.
The Mariners took the risk, and had in Andrew Clark arguably one of the best physical trainers in the world. He rebuilt McGlinchey and spent all the time that goes along with re building and the result speak for themselves.
At the same time the Mariners gathered via their youth academy and scouts many attacking ball players meaning it was difficult for teams to target any one player as we had a number of players. Amini, Rogic, Fitzy, Abinini, Duke meaning McGlinchey or any of the ball players had more freedom that teams who only had one attacking player. Add Ryan in goals with his wide distribution skills with Sainsbury and Dutchie also passing from the centre of the park, add Pedj constantly over lapping or supporting McGlinchey . He was part of a very good team that suited his style of play with and excellent coach and conditioner.
He then signed for the third time a 3 year deal, and after Arnold and Clark left he received an offer. He was only months into his new 3 year contract. He could have been sold for a lot at this stage. However as a reward for being loyal in the troubled times he was loan out with no fee. To earn a lot of money and develop hopefully an overseas career.
All that was asked in return was he was to return for the last six months, and if his career had taken off we could sell his contract and earn a fee [more than likely less than what we could have earned before] and or he would return to play for us.
Things did not work out for him in Japan, and he and his club spilt and he now had six or so months to spare.
Issues over the licence FFA etc … as far as the Mariners were concerned we had a signed contract from 1 Jan and believed he was coming back to play for us from 1 Jan as this was the contract.
The arbitrator Mr Peter Kite ruled last Thursday after everyone presented their case determined McGlinchey remained contracted to the Mariners. This after a long hearing with the legal bill by the PFA and Nix exceeding the Mariners I am told by a lot.
As we see it he was not replaced in the squad until after he clearly said he did not want to play under our current coach [ that is a huge insult we feel].
We believe we have a valid contract and we also believe the moral high ground .. our coach, our club has been constantly accused of many things, when all we have done is insist on what was agreed. In all honesty McGlinchey on the open market we he was loaned to the club of his choosing for free, could have been sold for a fee in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
I earn my living giving taxation and financial advice. Often repairing poor advice people received before. The Mariners always had McGlinchey registered as their player and no announcements where ever made by the club he was not our player. I am amazed at the advice given and it appears the Mariners were almost the last to know.
I am also astounded by the number of legal experts on this site … remember all the argument put where also put to Mr Peter Kite and he has said the contract stands and for reasons I have expressed in previous posts that makes sense to ensure a change in ownership does not create a free for all…