27 Jan 2017 07:06:28
Looks like we have offered Jose Baxter a 12 month contract and he will be playing with the U23's squad for the remainder of the season. I know the lad has done a lot of work with the EIC, some turn around after his off the field problems. Even if he doesn't make it to the first team I hope the club have given him a route back into football. We all did stupid things when we were young, I just hope he has learnt his lesson.
{Ed025's Note - it looks like the last chance saloon for him spud, i hope he is very grateful and realizes how lucky he is that this club has a heart of gold mate..
27 Jan 2017 07:32:37
I don't see him doing anything with first team but I do hope we put the right people round him to sort his head out and focused on football so he can play again for championship club. Great gesture by the club to look after one of our own.
27 Jan 2017 07:35:54
very true ed and I hope for his sake that he heeds the warnings and keeps his nose clean (pun intended! ) even if it is eventually with another club. Rhino will sort him out
27 Jan 2017 10:20:27
I personally think it's not the best thing to do and sends the wrong message out to the young players. how does this lad deserve a 12 month contract with us again. He has been banned more than once now for drugs. Not as if it was a 1 time thing.
Sends a message to say the young lads don't worry if u do drugs there is a way back. Not for me I think it's a bad move.
I see your point about giving the lad a way back into football. But does he deserve it after the chances he has had
When they are lads on the fringes trying the hardest to get signed an being professional.
Not for me.
27 Jan 2017 12:05:33
Only the club and the lad himself know the reason why the club have offered him this opportunity. I for one don't see anything wrong with it, and as for how it will look to the younger players. Well I have heard that part of this deal is that he will be talking to the younger players about what happened to him, and how easy it is to fail.
27 Jan 2017 13:13:37
Jimbochaddy, I could see your point if he had committed a more serious crime. But he's only taken drugs. I/ lots of us used to sniff when I/ we were younger it doeesn't make us bad/ unreliable people who should be disguarded or written off because of one part of our lives.
How many of us can say having as much money as a football player even a young one we wouldn't have acted idiots and spent that money on things we shouldn't have.
You have heard about one part of his life and assume he is a bad person and bad influence. He may be the best person for the young players to learn from having made mistakes and come back from it.
There's more to to being a good role model than being able to kick a ball.
27 Jan 2017 16:29:30
If anything, his story can be an example to the younger kids of how too much money too young can be a bad thing. If he steers one youth player away from drugs then it will be a successful venture. He would have served his ban come July, we, as a society, can't keep punishing people for their mistakes once they have paid their dues. He has been stupid but never hurt anyone but himself. He has been working for EITC during his ban so those in the back ground have seen him doing good things and believe he is worthy of another chance. It doesn't mean he will be performing for the 1st team any time soon and, as I stated in the OP, it could just be a leg up for the lad to get back in the game at a decent level. Live and let leave I say.
It's funny how supporters have a go at Bill when a not so positive story is in the press yet the good stuff is always attributed to Moshiri. For me, it shows that the club/ board look after their own in the good and the bad times. Not a bad thing really