Harsh Decisions for Some Players

With just three weeks to go before the beginning of the new season some players will be forced to take harsh decisions about their futures.

The most difficult situations often arise when a player is told that he will not be a first choice for the main squad any longer, perhaps after several seasons.

Some will take the view to stay at the club and fight to get back in the squad, others might feel a move may be beneficial especially when they are desperate to play first team football every week even at a lower level.

No doubt Hereford United manager Graham Turner is watching with great interest to see if he can encourage someone who has played at a higher level to come to Hereford. But one stumbling block could be the difference in wages offered.

One such player who has a decision to make is Wolves striker Jay Bothroyd who has a year left on his contract.

He wasn't in the Wolves squad that played at Edgar Street last Wednesday and has not been included in their Scottish tour which started yesterday. Instead he was in the Wolves reserves who played at Chasetown last night.

Leeds United and Wolves have agreed a transfer for Bothroyd, but the player appears to be in two minds whether to move to Elland Road. He may think that whilst Leeds may be in the Championship next season, Wolves could be a Premiership club by that time.

And there is the expected drop in wages for Bothroyd to consider.

It is reported that he is currently on about £8,000 per week. A move to Leeds could see his wage cut in half.

Hereford United are in urgent need of at least one if not two strikers. No doubt the club can not afford the sort of wages Bothroyd would require but there will be more players in the same situation over the next few weeks.

Graham Turner could just strike lucky.

Meanwhile Leeds manager Gary McAlister is set to let Anthony Elding leave Elland Road. Crewe are understood to have offered £150,000 for the striker.

Elding is expected to have to agree to a pay cut wherever he moves to.

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