An open letter to Ashley Cole:
An Open Letter To Ashley Cole
Exiled In Newcastle
Tuesday, 7 June 2005 2:15 PM
LONDON (ARSENAL-MANIA) - Dear Ashley,
Last week I wrote a cheque for £1,295. Now I know to you that's probably small change (a good night's sleep will earn you more) but to me it's a lot of money. And why did I write that cheque? I'll tell you, as you probably have no idea. That's what my season ticket for Highbury is costing me next season. That works out a spit short of 50 quid every game (or maybe a pair of socks for you).
Now please don't get me wrong, I actually don't begrudge you your wages. I don't mind the fact that you'll earn more this year than most of us will probably earn in a lifetime. What does make me mad is hearing your representatives and lawyers bitching about how unfair the whole system is. I've even seen headlines comparing footballers contracts with slavery! If it wasn't so sickening the concept of multi-millionaire slaves would be a good sit-com idea.
Let's get it straight – all you're expected to do is honour your contract and not speak to other clubs (especially who and when) whilst you're supposed to be discussing a new contract with Arsenal. Not much really, is it.
Footballers have always been well paid in comparison to the average person, from way back when. The £8 a week players earned during the season (£4 summer) in the 30's was in no way excessive, but certainly a comfortable wage compared with the average worker. Even more so as the depression bit. The retain and transfer system in place then that lasted through to Jimmy Hill's campaign (with George Eastham as an uncomfortable figurehead) to change that and remove the maximum wage in the early 60's, which directly led to the first £100 footballers in this country (I believe Johnny Haines at Fulham was the first).
There was still a genuine injustice in the system though; in so much as even after a player had seen out their contract clubs could still demand a transfer fee. Bosman put an end to that, and whilst it wasn't good for football in general I couldn't disagree with the fairness of it being overturned.
But now we have your people bleating about how footballers are the modern slaves! Ashley, it's sickening in a world where genuine slavery still exists for someone on a reported £27,000 a week to be compared with them. Absolutely sickening. But with the self interest (and self importance) of players these days I'm in no way surprised to read it. Every day of the year, where ever you are and whatever you're doing you're earning nearly £4000. Some slavery. People to pander to your needs and pamper you (paid for by the club not you). Luxury travel everywhere you go (and don't start telling me that it's a hard life with all the travel – try schlepping 600 miles up and down the M1 to every home game like I do!). The best of everything. Even the clothes you 'work' in are provided for free! And I must point out that you appeared very happy with the contract when you feely signed it (or was that nasty Mr Dein holding a gun to your head?).
Now a dose of the real world for you. If you were there you'd know that us mortals only get paid when we're at work. We might be lucky enough to work for a firm with a subsidised canteen where we can eat our lunch – not the free canteen you get at the training ground. Like you we have to negotiate wage rises, but in the real world.
When I sign a contract for something it normally gives a period of notice each side has to give. I could be gone in a few weeks with no come back. You signed a contract where you were paid £27,000 every week for five years. It's called a fixed term contract and you agreed to honour it. Now you're not and it's 'poor you'. It's sickening.
Another sickening thing is when you say how you've always given Arsenal 100% on the pitch as if we should be grateful for that. Well we're not - we DEMAND it. Giving 100% is the absolute minimum that we should expect from players. Form may mysteriously come and go – we accept that – but you should be giving 100% as a matter of course.
Then I read your bleating article in the Sunday papers (the rag of rags no less – the horrible one that you and your agent said lied about the meeting happening). By the way – how much did you trouser for that article? £10k ... £20k? And Ashley – you make me sick to the pit of my stomach.
You say that you wanted £60k a week. Fair enough, I've got to admit I've never been shy about asking for a wage rise. But then you try to justify everything you did because Arsenal had the temerity not to completely acquiesce to your demands. It really is beyond belief.
Well, Ash, sod you and your snivelling agent (who expected Arsenal to pay him for you signing a new contract – he's your agent, you pay him!). And don't even try all this bull about feeling forced out of the club you (claim to) love, and how you feel you won't be able to put on your 'beloved' Arsenal shirt again. You did this. Not David Dein or the board. YOU.
When this story first broke I was strongly of the opinion that you shouldn't be judged until the commission had sat. I wouldn't boo you; I actively cheered you at games. I thought you really were 'one of us' who'd just got caught up in something by mistake. But you're not, you're one of 'them'. Just another footballer that doesn't give a toss about anyone but yourself.
If you though that sordid article was going to ingratiate you with the fans and that we'd think poor little Ash has been hard done by then you were wrong. Very wrong.
As far as I'm concerned I'm through with you. I hope you sod off somewhere (I've even seen Real Madrid touted – another example of you and principles ...) and your career nose-dives as most do when they leave Wenger's Arsenal. Mind you if I was on the board then the able Clichy would be first choice next season and you would rot in the reserves for two years. What would your earning potential be then?
If you ever actually read this and feel I've been unfair then contact me and I'll give you a chance to reply to any of the points. But you won't will you ... we're only fans. It's not like we matter to you.
Sincerely,
Exiled In Newcastle
From an Arsenal forum. I hope the cunt gets to read this one day.
