One of the West Ham co-Chairmen David Sullivan, is revealing the real deal on Demba Ba.
Demba Ba – agent got £2M from Newcastle
The former Birmingham City co-owner is being interviewed at West Ham, and he is revealing how they got Demba Ba and then how they lost him in the summer to Newcastle United.
This is some of what Sullivan has said regarding Demba Ba, his contract at Newcastle, and how they couldn’t keep him at Upton Park:
“Demba Ba signed a three and a half year contract with us. We had a deal where his salary would be halved if we were relegated, and he said – “Well on that basis, I have got to be allowed to walk if we get relegated”.
“What we should have said in retrospect – but none of us thought he would score so many goals – is that we’d be happy to give him £40 grand a week in the Championship.”
“In the end I offered him £45 grand a week to stay but he wouldn’t take it. What we should have said was that if we don’t halve your salary, you haven’t got a get-out. The failure to put that one line in the contract cost us very, very dearly.”
“As I say, Ba was on £35 grand a week and I offered him £45 grand a week to stay, but he went to Newcastle. His agent got £2 million to take him to Newcastle.”
“I’m told he’s got a £7 million get-out at Newcastle and he gets half the money over that. They keep denying it but I think you’ll see in the summer he will leave Newcastle or he’ll get a monstrous rise to stay there.”
“If they get about four million, half will go to him, so if they sell him for £7 million they’ll only net about three because they paid his agent £2 million to get him out of here.”
” Getting £3 million is not bad, but for a player of his quality it’s not fantastic. It’s one of those mistakes that happen, but it’s probably one of the worst mistakes I have ever made in my life.”
“It just didn’t enter our heads. it didn’t enter anybody’s head that he’d score enough goals that we’d want to give him £40k a week and his old club £15/20k an appearance and we’d still be relegated. In reality that’s exactly what happened.”
“The agent just threw it in at the last minute. He said “Obviously if his salary is cut by 50% you’ve got to let him walk”. We thought, OK, if we get relegated, do we really want a £40k a week striker in the Championship?”
“Well, we would have because he was devastating. If he was with us now and his knee had held up, because remember, he did have a very very bad knee, I think we’d be 15 points clear, I really do.”
“He’d be cutting through those defences. You live and you learn.”
Not to rub it in, but Ba is cutting through those defenses in the Premier League, and Newcastle are currently one point out of 4th place with Ba having smashed in 16 goals – so far this season.
Derek LLambias had said last summer that these free transfers were not free, but it’s a surprise that Newcastle had to pay his agent as much as £2M.
We wonder how much the club will need to pay the agent if and they renegotiate the striker’s contract in the next few months?
But Newcastle need to do that if indeed Demba Ba will get half of what the transfer fee is, and if the release clause is indeed £7M, hell get a huge £3.5M.
But the world was told the release clause was £7M by a certain Harry Redknapp in early January. Harry had said during his tax evasion trial that he was not good at business, and we agree with that.
And he also shouldn’t expose everything he knows to those pals of his in the press, and how is it going to be if and when he becomes the England manager?
The sooner Newcastle negotiate a new contract with Ba the better it will be for Newcastle, and the 26 year-old has already said he really likes it on Tyneside, so that should help.
We hope.
In the interview Sullivan pours the blame onto former manager Avram Grant, and he tries to make it absolutely clear the Israeli was the one responsible for West Ham being relegated, when they had so many good players in the squad.
David Sullivan and David Gold had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Of course not.
Comments welcome.
225 comments so far
check the toastie
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:15 PM
Comment #81Not sure where i stand with the Demba Ba thing, would it be good business to sell for 20million plus? or do we keep him on high wages and long term contract even though he could break down at any moment, its a tough one,
i imagine he will be away if a PSG come in for him and make a decent offer, just go out and get some more hungry players with the cash just like last summer i suppose. Its not easy to find a 20 EPL goal striker though, although i think we have just got another one for 9 million Cisse, goals for them both at the weekend i think.
Bit of an incentive for him to leave though when he pockets half the transfer fee over 7 million himself, agent gets him a transfer for 15 million and they pocket a nice little 4 million pounds, these contracts must be a nightmare to seal.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:17 PM
Comment #82JB
I’ve got a good feeling he’ll stay meself,If we do have a new much learned ambitious MA in place,maybe they will bring another striker in as well maybe that Erdnic,with Lover going somebody has to replace him.
JackButler
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:18 PM
Comment #83Offer a new deal on increased wages with a bonus intensive with a clause that protects us if his knee does blow.
If we were to lose him how much would it cost to bring in another striker that can score 20+ league goals a season???
dez
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:19 PM
Comment #84Greeteat toon team ever, no Gallagher or Milburn. Too old to see them play but apparently they were something else, I would probably have Waddle over Ginola.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:21 PM
Comment #85check,
I asked in an earlier post where people where getting that we’ll be able to sell him for X amount of pounds,from what I understand,we can’t as soon as someone offers 7M the ball is then firmly in his court,he then chooses which ever club comes in with the 7M.
JackButler
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:21 PM
Comment #86Jail – Would like us to look at bringing in a new, young striker, like a Jordan Rhodes for example. Someone we can coach and bring through, I’d let Lovern and Shola leave and keep Best to have Ba, Cisse, Best and a good young striker with pace and potential
stuart no9
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:23 PM
Comment #87mactoon @ 57 yeah mate very much so.
check the toastie
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:24 PM
Comment #88For me i think we have just signed another 20 goals a season striker for 9 million quids, only time will tell though, would be a blow to lose BA though he has been a revelation and also an all round decent guy, all players nowadays are money spiders though and him probably even more so knowing his career might end prematurely, i like the bloke and wish him all the best whatever really.
check the toastie
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:30 PM
Comment #89JFA – i would think there will be a clause that says something like he can talk to other clubs, similar to young Taylor at swansea who we were trying to nab with a 1 million releases clause, however swansea didnt have to sell and pretty much dug there heals in for more money and the deal collapsed.
It seems like it is more worthwhile to Ba if a club offered more as he receives part of the inflated fee so it appears to be a funny contract, speculation really but cannot imagine he would be allowed to leave the club for 7 million, just no way for me.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:31 PM
Comment #90JB
Sounds canny,I think its a given Lover will go but Shola’s definitely hanging round for a gold watch,well at least a box o chocolates,MA surprised us with Cisse,thats why my opinion has softened slightly I dont think he would have bought him if he was going to be content with mid table,so maybe there will be some major investment this summer.
stuart no9
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:31 PM
Comment #91niff in the usa@59 – shouldnt you be watching jeremy lin playing basket ball mate. you might know a bit about it.
JackButler
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:33 PM
Comment #92Release clauses in contracts are so complicated, it could be that he’s allowed to talk certain named clubs if they come in for him, anyway I think he likes it here too much and we are doing well for him to want to leave us
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:34 PM
Comment #93check,
His agent sounds just as shrewd as MA,if a club met the price they could make up the rest with a lucrative signing on fee,thats my concern.
Marty-Toon
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:39 PM
Comment #94Lads it’s a long time to summer and why are we talking about BA leaving?
Who said he would be?
Why so pessimistic?
If we get into Europe,there is actually a chance he will wanna stay and play for us.Thus getting himself a pay rise too.
Indian wrote that Lua lua is killing Johnson and that is certainly something we haven’t been able to say much bout Obertan.
Maybe lua lua wasn’t good enough for toon or t.hat he’s been injured a lot but he’s a proper winger and that is exactly what we’ve been missing in the team.
SuperShearer
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:51 PM
Comment #95From Demba Ba on Twitter: I truly think sullivan miss me. What a man 😉
WWJBD
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:51 PM
Comment #96Well this has a very negative tone tonight. Ba laughed off speculation of him leaving in January and said he was enjoying playing for NUFC with no plans to leave. His national team mate came to us as well which would only help in keeping him surely
National team is important to him and striking up a good partnership with Cisse would be a great way to nail down a starting spot
Not saying he wont leave but its not all gloom around him surely?
NothingButNewcastle.com
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:51 PM
Comment #97Need to get him on a new contract
check the toastie
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:59 PM
Comment #98Just respnding to Eds post really, quite happy to talk about why Benny should be in the team and why pardew is too defensive minded, it would be easier for me as i could just copy and paste all my previous comments.
MagpiesFlyHigh
Feb 19, 2012 at 7:59 PM
Comment #99Why would Ba want to leave. He’s knocking them in, got a new strike partner who he recommended signing for the Toon. If we finish top 6 – where is he going to go ? He’ll want to be along for the ride if he gets a decent contract and thinks we’ve got ambition – which we probably have. Adn he gets on with the manager. My message for Ba is:
Don’t change horses in the middle of the stream..
check the toastie
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:01 PM
Comment #100JFA – nice to see earlier you and Bills son reaching some amicable compromise, hope this doesnt mean the end of the ashley doll abuse, i find it amusing and i think deep down Bills son will miss it.
stuart no9
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:02 PM
Comment #101toondownsouth@66 im sorry mate but ifeel you insulted me first.What do you mean by” ba is here for the short term ” if i cant read
JackButler
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:10 PM
Comment #102WWJBD
You know what we’re like, we create our own doom when there’s non provided 🙂
rknufc
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:13 PM
Comment #103http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=221525517943550&set=a.174963159266453.38957.100002583110863&type=1&theater
Sav
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:14 PM
Comment #104I think Sully needs to go back to school…
“I’m told he’s got a £7 million get-out at Newcastle and he gets half the money over that. They keep denying it but I think you’ll see in the summer he will leave Newcastle or he’ll get a monstrous rise to stay there.”
“If they get about four million, half will go to him, so if they sell him for £7 million they’ll only net about three because they paid his agent £2 million to get him out of here.”
Sully says Ba gets half of whatever we get over 7 million, so for him to get 3 million, he’d have to be sold for 13 million. Good as he is, everyone admits the dodgy knee exists, so when you talk those kind of numbers, are many clubs going to take the risk?
WWJBD
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:18 PM
Comment #105JB
Too true mate too true
I would love to say Ba will be here next season with 100% certainty but knowing both football and NUFC its very hard to do but I am hopeful
nick_9
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:22 PM
Comment #106When will these clowns learn some forking respect and stop talking about other clubs players. To broadcast the ‘get out’ clause of one our best players is as bad as tapping up as far as I’m concerned. Now clubs know what they can sign him for, dodgy knee or not his goals have helped us climb a good few league position which will gain us money at the end of the season. It really pi55e5 me off when managers talk about our players. How would that tax evading PR1ck like it if we broadcasted to real or barca the release clause in gareth bales contract.
A ‘get out clause’ to me indicates he can leave for the amount in the clause which is 7 million. If we only gain half of that it isn’t enough. 10 million for us then your talking. Why would clubs start a bidding war over Ba when they can all just meet the 7 million clause. It seems Ba has a very shrewd agent who looks out for himself and Ba. Hoping the fact Cisse is here encourages ba to stay for longer but if any of the Manchester clubs or Chelsea come calling can you see Ba staying just to play with his teammate? I cannot. I reckon he would walk and net himself half the seven million and a better contract.
Best hope none of the more appealing clubs knock on his agents door but I suspect his agent will be fishing for a move on the back of such a good season for Ba.
estechco
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:24 PM
Comment #107Just been sent a picture (albeit blurry) that suggests the SJP banksy has been at it again!
catchy in norway
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:27 PM
Comment #108can i just say for every bargin we pick up like ba tiote cabaye, and they prove to be a success in the prem, bigger teams that acctually want success will come and pay good money for them, and because they where so cheap, ash will sell,
this is no longer a club looking for success, this is now a another sports direct shop window,
all you that say say it was good business to sell carroll can say nothing about it, cos its just business,
the goal every season from now on is to stay in the prem, and thats it,
no ambition just a shop window
MacToon
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:27 PM
Comment #109http://t.co/jTU5AHhp
Looks like ur right 🙂
WWJBD
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:28 PM
Comment #110https://twitter.com/#!/phillyd6969/status/171325422821326848/photo/1
WWJBD
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:29 PM
Comment #111MacToon
U were a minute ahead of me u swine haha
rknufc
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Comment #112link didnt work 🙁 https://twitter.com/#!/gaztoon84/status/171327851738570752/photo/1
Oleg G
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Comment #113anyone watched that?
6-1? really? 3 o.g ?
What happened there? And why we were beaten by them 1-0? Absolutely horrible. A team with a Judas and a racist wins 6-1 a team that won against us 1-0. f&*%
JackButler
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:33 PM
Comment #114This is going to be an ongoing thing until people start ripping down the ‘Sports Direct Arena’ sign that will no doubt go up in a few days time.
MacToon
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:33 PM
Comment #115Unlucky WW lol
Gonna watch Barca game on now and count how many times Messi loses the ball 😉
I feel lucky lmao
WWJBD
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:36 PM
Comment #116MacToon
Haha fair game lad u were well on the ball
Out of interest what is the general feeling towards these people painting our grounds name back up on the wall?
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:36 PM
Comment #117it may all be true but most of what sullivan said is what has already been thrown around in media, he of course has a motive because hes quite upset at ba leaving for zilch making him the other dwarf and the witch look like fools id also think that they are looking at where we as a club are now and thinking if only wed have bought them instead, mike ashley was one of the first people to admit he knew nothing about running a footvall club but luckily for us he knows everything about buisness and believe me he will never let a comodity like ba walk on the cheap he will get a mega contract but may still leave but we will definitly make good money if he does.
t00ntime
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Comment #118people need to stop the spray painting… what if MA says fine it will stay SJP but now I need to make the 10mil elsewhere… Ba sold 3.5mil ben arfa 5mil… and raylor 1.5 mil there 10mil made back…
I for one would rather the sign change 😉 every year to make the moeny he would of earned (for himself/keep club self sufficent) he wud have to sell players
JackButler
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:40 PM
Comment #119WWJBD
Where as things may be looking good regarding our league position, scouting system and business model that Ashley’s put in place, but this renaming of the stadium is just plain wrong. Personally I don’t care how much it could bring into the club, the history and tradition is with St James’ Park not the Sports Direct Arena.
No amount of money or advertising is worth losing the name of our home
Rotonda heights
Feb 19, 2012 at 8:41 PM
Comment #120check the toastie.
that ‘s why i thought it was hilarious pardew said we lost to spurs because we were to attack minded. Which attack was that then!!!