We still await the imminent dissolution of True Blue Holdings, as revealed at the EGM last September.  We still await the confirmation of incoming funds from this Fortress Sports Fund thingy:–

“Well there’s two tranches…there’s an original 29.9% and then possibly some more. So, you know, thirteen to fourteen million and then another fifteen million down the line. So there’s a possible twenty eight, twenty nine million…”

Excellent news indeed, Mr Chairman!

With so much money about to come into the Club (who really cares about the possibility of Everton FC being owned by overseas businessmen eh?) and not forgetting the record loot secured from Manchester United… well, we’re quids in, surely?

Stop.

Why am I feeling pretty glum about our immediate future when all appears to be going swimmingly?  Third in the league, one foot in the Champions League, ahead of the neighbours and playing football with a smile not seen for years — why dwell on the negatives?

Well — I’d like to know, for sure, that David Moyes will indeed sign an extension to his Everton contract.  A little dicky bird told me that our manager, upon hearing his chairman wax lyrical with Jonathan Pierce on BBC 5Live, contacted his boss with a shopping list for the next transfer window, seeing as he was arguably the least active buying manager in the previous transfer window. 

If all is to be believed, I hear our Chairman was not best pleased with the media reports (his own words included) saying Everton were in the money and the manager would avail of the funds.  We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and cut him some slack and dismiss it as no more than an Internet rumour as we know our Chairman will do his absolute best to provide the funds necessary this coming January for all that early season optimism to continue.  It’s surely an absolute possibility…

Twelve games into the current season, I’ve heard some cracking reasons why we’re riding so high in the Premiership:

Everton are a better team without the disruptive hype surrounding Wayne Rooney.  Exactly!  Who needs the kid when you’ve got Marcus Bent hobbling off after fifteen minutes?  We now have such an array of attacking options should our lone striker find himself sidelined — Ferguson, Campbell, Chadwick.  McFadden if required.  Who needs Rooney now eh?  Not us – we’re third! 

We’re also playing better as a team because most of the players (meaning those not released last summer in the wages cull!) are all playing for new contracts, trying to impress and convince the management that they deserve a renewed contract.  If that is true then it speaks volumes for the commitment of some (as seen almost weekly from October ’03 to May ’04).  When it comes to money – wages – we’re a funny old Club, “The People’s Club.”  We have in the past seen quite a number of players pass through Everton Football Club, earning a bloody fortune for little return.  The likes of Slaven Bilic instantly springs to mind — a man who gave outstanding service to the Club and was paid accordingly.  Thing is though, players like “our Slav” — they’re not scousers, or kids who grew up loving the Blues and dreaming of one day pulling on the famous Royal Blue shirt.  They get paid a king’s ransom and all keep an uneasy quiet once it dawns that we’re being fleeced.  Again.

The flip side of that is, of course, the kid that comes through the ranks and earns himself a place in the first team squad.  Leon Osman is one such player — a young player who has patiently waited (and waited…) for his time to come.  The fact that Osman suffered a serious injury a few seasons back will only have served to remind Osman that a career playing football can be terminated with one bad tackle.  Osman has proved many people wrong over the past two years — initial loan spells at both Carlisle United and a very successful time at Derby County have provided Osman with the opportunity to show his wares.  Something we’ve now all come to appreciate at Goodison? 

Well, not quite.  You see, Osman’s contract is up for renewal at the end of the season and like others he’s seeking a new improved deal.  He is currently one of the worst paid players in our first team squad.  If we were in his shoes wouldn’t we seek the same?  He has caught the eye in most games this season with his eagerness to impress (not forgetting his goals) and his performances have not gone unnoticed by the Goodison faithful.  However, the Club are stalling on giving Osman a better deal.  His current contract sees him earn a pitiful 1/17th (ish) of what’s (allegedly!) being paid out to both Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell.  His current contract sees his wages topped up by appearance incentives — he gets selected then he is paid more.  It’s as simple as that.  Still in the ha’penny place, trotting behind the rest of them…

The new deal currently being offered to Osman sees no real increase in wages — a simple jigging about with the figures.  I believe his basic wage would rise slightly but his appearance bonus drop.  There’s an incentive eh?!  “Here, lad, sign here………you’ve earned a new deal…sign here, we want to pay you more for possibly not being picked!”  With both Ferguson and Campbell looking increasingly due for the departure lounge, it will release a lot of money for the manager (or Philip Green?!).  Surely young Osman is worth a more respectable wage (in today’s ‘going rate’).  Even with an increase in wages nearer to what’s being asked, that will still remain a LOT less than the figure being earned by Marcus Bent.

Surely it’s in the best interests of “The People’s Club” to look after “one of our own”?  A local lad ‘done good’ and now using the stage at Goodison to show one and all that “hey, he ain’t a bad lad that Ossie….”

If not, then we’re already anticipating the use of the local media — the Echo in particular — as Osman too heads for pastures new (Bolton and Middlesbrough already monitoring the situation).  I can see the headline already — “OSMAN REJECTS DEAL” — with little detail given beyond the banner headline.  What is it with local lads not earning financial parity with their teammates at Everton?  Must they ALWAYS settle for the pride that comes with donning the shirt and no more?  Those days are long gone.

Get it sorted Everton before there’s a gap on that right side of midfield and a player gone elsewhere for nothing.  If that happens…well, we’ll need to scour for a replacement.  Recent history points towards the arrival of an unknown foreigner (knowledge of the English language optional!) and you can bet your last pound that they will NOT accept the same wage deal currently being offered Osman.  If a new deal is not sorted soon enough, will Leon Osman become Leon Bosman?  T'was ever thus at the School of Science…