BLM, say it ain't so

Wakefield Trinity have given Jordan Crowther permission to speak to rival clubs.

The 23-year-old is off-contract at the end of next season and though Wakefield are keen to retain their homegrown star, League Express has been notified by other clubs that he has been made available.

Off-contract players are normally not allowed to speak to other clubs until May 1st, but can be granted permission if requested.

Crowther has emerged as a key cog in Chris Chester’s squad, with his utility value proving pivotal.

He made eleven appearances during 2020 and is set to play a more prominent role again next season.

But it remains to be seen whether that will be his final season, with two clubs already believed to have tabled deals.

In the week Chester talked up Crowther’s worth to his side.

“In terms of the first team, the performances of people like Jordan Crowther, he has been a standout player for us,” he told the Wakefield Express.

“He has really worked hard on his game over the last couple of years.

“He found himself on the fringes of the first team in recent seasons, but the biggest accolade I can give him is that he is one of the first names I think about when we are picking a side.

“Especially when we are coming up against a tough side with big people in the middle, Jordy is one of the first players mentioned in our daily staff meetings.”

Meanwhile Trinity confirmed the loan extension on Innes Senior this week, with the winger to return from Huddersfield on a season-long loan.

The England Academy international spent the end of the 2020 campaign with Trinity, scoring four tries.

He’s got to do what’s right for himself first and foremost, like any job. It’s such a short and at times unpredictable career. Really hope he stays but if not I wish him all the best, he really gave everything he had on the field when playing for us.

Thanks for doing the technical bit and giving my post context

The club are protecting their investment by letting him talk now.

If they wait and JC decides to move, he would move for free.

Important for both JC and the club to know what his value is in the market.

Hope he stays.
I'd wish him well if he decided to leave.

This is where it will be announced he has signed a new deal...

That's not good news but if he's leaving better the club is given monetary value for him than gone for free, same with TJ

After this weeks Q&A on Trinity Tv i'm with you on this one.

Very sad news for Trinity fans if correct, especially with him being one of our own products. I can't understand the juxtaposition of CC claiming "He's the first name he thinks of when choosing the team", and "A valued member of the side"; but then him being made available to other clubs. Was that just Club rhetoric, or has Jordan asked to be made available? Hope he decides to stay

What's so hard to understand?

He's out of contract at the end of the year. If we refuse him permission to talk to other clubs, he will walk for for free.

If we allow him to talk, we have the option to match or better the offer (this allows JC to earn the money the market thinks he is worth), or if we can't agree, we can accept a fee.

He may, of course, decide to just see out his contract and leave anyway.

It's not unheard of for the buying club to sign a player for the following year, avoiding a fee and putting the money "saved" onto the new players contract. Shady dealings.

I imagine he will end up signing a new deal but if he does get a good deal elsewhere decide to move on then good luck to him. It’s a short career and he needs to do what is best for his own future. He’ll be 24 shortly, he has to start maximising his career earning potential sooner rather than later. Go find out what others are willing to offer then see if we can match it. Hopefully we can.

Of course I appreciate all that you say from a business point of view. I was being somewhat rhetorical myself. It's the irony of the situation. The Head coach one day says more or less: Oh! you're such a valued member of the squad, and then the Club claims, but if there's a bit of brass in it for us you can go.

I thought that Crowther would be a player that Trinity would want to keep ??

The season just gone has been his best season for us and when so many others weren't bothered, this gut was tackling everything that moved.
Surely, he deserves a new contract - at Trinity
It seems strange to have invested so much time and effort into the lad, just to let him go when he is playing so well ??

I know one thing for certain, if he leaves he will immediately become a Trinity martyr to the very same people who only a year ago were slagiging him off as not good enough - you know who you are.

Truth is neither party owe the other anything more than good manners and respect.
So long as that takes place what will be will be.

I generally follow the idea on here that he won’t be going anywhere. I certainly hope not as you build teams around these players, I’ve always been a fan of his.

Truth is that for many players not just JC leaving your boyhood club is often the making of them. In my industry there is a saying ‘start as an apprentice stay an apprentice’ and the only way out is to move on if you have ambitions. when you’ve served your time.

It’s a tricky one for fans to accept but players being at any club at the right time is not easy to predict. JC wants to know his worth and why not he’s been a fringe player until this season, he’s earned it.

Whatever happens let’s not have the wailing and recriminations, the club will survive, new players will emerge. Hopefully he will stay, he has plenty of reasons to do so, fingers crossed but if not it is what it is.