Is this the best way to motivate your players coming off a play off final defeat? Especially when you're wanting automatic promotion next season...
PAY CUT WARNING FOR CITY STARS
Steve Lansdown today warned Bristol City's players that the wages "gravy train" is over - and hinted strongly that some may have to take pay cuts to stay with the club. City have a number of players out of contract this summer, including last season's top scorer Lee Peacock, Christian Roberts, Matty Hill, Aaron Brown, Joe Burnell and Mickey Bell.
But after the heartbreak of their play-off final defeat by Brighton in Cardiff on Sunday, Ashton Gate chairman Lansdown acknowledged that the board would be taking a hard look at the club's finances - and that it would have repercussions when it came to negotiating any new deals.
"We have a number of players out of contract and the first thing we have to look at is what we can offer those we wish to retain, then we can see if we have anything left in the kitty to bring any new players in to strengthen the squad," said Lansdown. "The harsh reality of football at the moment is that wages are coming down, and that's good news from a business point of view but not so good for the players.
"They have had a bit of a gravy train up until about a year or so ago but that's changing now. We have to give our players a fair wage so they have a good standard of living and bonuses for performing - that's the way it should be."
Lansdown insisted that City would continue their policy of trying to develop their own talent as they bid for another push for promotion next season.
"We have invested in the team and it's easy to forget what we have built up just because we have missed out in a big final," he added.
"We have invested a lot of money into the youth development system and have a lot of good young players coming through. A number of those players now have experience and maturity and are forming the core of the squad.
"We have deliberately looked for young players with potential like Lee Miller and Luke Wilkshire, who will continue to develop.
"We are not going to go out buying players of 29 or 30 because there is no future in that."
And the chairman again made it clear that Danny Wilson's future with the club was not at issue.
"Any conversation regarding Danny Wilson's position would take place between the board and Danny himself, but there are no plans to discuss it," he added.
"Danny is the manager and will remain so. I expect him still to be here at the end of next season."
"My biggest disappointment was that there was great enthusiasm for the game from our supporters, but we let those people down. Now we have to keep them coming back and not let them down again."
Nice one, Lansdown. Kick'em when they're down. Nothing like a little financial insecurity to make your pre-season a good one!
This Is Bristol story
PAY CUT WARNING FOR CITY STARS
Steve Lansdown today warned Bristol City's players that the wages "gravy train" is over - and hinted strongly that some may have to take pay cuts to stay with the club. City have a number of players out of contract this summer, including last season's top scorer Lee Peacock, Christian Roberts, Matty Hill, Aaron Brown, Joe Burnell and Mickey Bell.
But after the heartbreak of their play-off final defeat by Brighton in Cardiff on Sunday, Ashton Gate chairman Lansdown acknowledged that the board would be taking a hard look at the club's finances - and that it would have repercussions when it came to negotiating any new deals.
"We have a number of players out of contract and the first thing we have to look at is what we can offer those we wish to retain, then we can see if we have anything left in the kitty to bring any new players in to strengthen the squad," said Lansdown. "The harsh reality of football at the moment is that wages are coming down, and that's good news from a business point of view but not so good for the players.
"They have had a bit of a gravy train up until about a year or so ago but that's changing now. We have to give our players a fair wage so they have a good standard of living and bonuses for performing - that's the way it should be."
Lansdown insisted that City would continue their policy of trying to develop their own talent as they bid for another push for promotion next season.
"We have invested in the team and it's easy to forget what we have built up just because we have missed out in a big final," he added.
"We have invested a lot of money into the youth development system and have a lot of good young players coming through. A number of those players now have experience and maturity and are forming the core of the squad.
"We have deliberately looked for young players with potential like Lee Miller and Luke Wilkshire, who will continue to develop.
"We are not going to go out buying players of 29 or 30 because there is no future in that."
And the chairman again made it clear that Danny Wilson's future with the club was not at issue.
"Any conversation regarding Danny Wilson's position would take place between the board and Danny himself, but there are no plans to discuss it," he added.
"Danny is the manager and will remain so. I expect him still to be here at the end of next season."
"My biggest disappointment was that there was great enthusiasm for the game from our supporters, but we let those people down. Now we have to keep them coming back and not let them down again."
Nice one, Lansdown. Kick'em when they're down. Nothing like a little financial insecurity to make your pre-season a good one!
This Is Bristol story