Evans does say that in virtually every interview, even when out of context, that the budget is the same as last season and he will not be getting a penny more than Lovell had to spend.
In the pre-match Burton interview (on iFollow) that ChrisWho is referring to, he says that as an away manager coming to Priestfield you always think you have a chance as Gills have a bottom 6 budget, possibly even bottom 4/5. It seemed like a slightly strange point to make in this context, and possibly signifies frustration at the constraints he's working to.
He's also being paid the same as Lovell was, and Scally said that Evans' payoff from Peterborough is more than he will earn with us.
I think with the ruthless exclusion of Rees and Stevenson and Oldaker now being told he won't play for us again, plus of course Reilly and Parrett being moved on as Evans didn't think they'd fit into his plans, Evans is simply trying to generate more budget to spend on the players he wants.
Pretty much all of that rings true Lark. And it’s similar in a way to what Chris/Kettners are saying, but put in possibly the right context and reasons.
It’s obvious Steve Evans wants his own team. Every manager does. Wasn’t the line often said about SL, “it’s not his team, let us judge him next season when he has his own players”. Well, SE is trying to get in his own players. After all it’s his job on the line if they fail.
If there are players that were here previously that don’t fit his plans then surely it’s in everyone’s best interests (players included) that they move on and get playing. Why sit in our extended squad doing nothing? Free up a wage for someone who will be part of the plans.
We have possibly suffered because of this for many years. Internal manager appointments that don’t move on existing players even if they then don’t play much. Very hard to tell your mates and colleagues they aren’t required.
As for the budget. I reckon we are in the bottom 1/3 of budgets for this div. Over the years that question has been posed on numerous forums. And different sources (papers, websites etc) come up with various calculations that always put us around that mark. Not quite the worst, but never too much better than that. Makes perfect sense to me given the club size and attendances. Maybe increasing our crowds a little will provide extra budget?
And I still fail to see why we aren’t similar budget to last season. What players do we currently have on our books that you’d say “wow! We must be paying him a motza!”.
I can only think that Bonham is on ok wages because he chose us over Brizzle, and maybe O’Keefe and Matty Willock might be on a bit more. But Christ even he is an untried U23 player. He wasn’t playing in the Prem.
The rest were picked up from Div 1 and 2 clubs and some had no club having been released. Plus 3 loanees. Can’t see why anyone thinks we are breaking the bank. And we have less players still here than last season. No one said Steve Lovell had too many players.
Btw - there haven’t been any ins/outs announced Ketts. What’s happening? I thought it was all going to become clear.
Roll on Saturday.
