Collins signs for FGR

[Freez]

Bugger, two year deal!!
That’s a blow.

[BerlinWaller]

Heard a rumour he was wanting big money. Can't blame him for cashing in whilst he is hot. Good luck to the lad.

[Vinny]

Good luck to him, I expect he'll cut the mustard with them. Perhaps he secretly didn't like our pies. At least we've a good signing with Stockton

[redrobo]

Not surprised that he has signed for a club nearer his Newport roots. However let's not forget that before he came to us his goal scoring record was below average. So there is the possibility that he will find it difficult one again to score for his new club.

Wish him well and will be interesting to see if he makes a success of it.

Time f or us to move on and find another JB gem. He has a knack of always finding someone, let's hope he does it again and again and again.

If we afford him an improved deal then are we not entitled to a transfer fee....??????

[CityShrimp]

Seems a shame to lose him to a fellow league 2 club not much bigger than us...

[redrobo]

Suspect that his decision is based on geography. Nailsworth (home of FGR) is less than an hour to his Newport family base.

[black morse]

It is as it is but still a shame we don't get anything for him. Still is goals probably saved us last season.

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

Best of luck to the lad but being a wealthy club FGR already have several experienced strikers on the books. If he doesn't hit the ground running he'll be quickly shuffled back in the pack and won't get the chance he deserves.Would more than likely have been guaranteed a start at our place and a chance to play himself into form if he needed it.

[Slanester]

Really, really disappointed at this news, but in all honesty, it was always just a slim chance that it wasn’t going to happen. He certainly did a great job for us, showed his quality, and played a big part in our season. Showcased him a bit too well unfortunately.

Good luck to the lad at FGR.

[Westgate Wanderer]

Good luck to him, if he shows the form he had at the end of last season he will be snapped up by a bigger club come January and make them more money!

[Posh]

Showcased him a bit too well.

He says as much himself in a video interview. Said he got a short-term permanent contract at Morecambe in order to put himself in the shop window at other clubs.

It will be interesting to see how he does. Got a bit of a free role with us and may not get that at FGR. Has done poorly at other League 2 sides on loan, so will need to make a strong impact quickly.

[Castaway]

Best of luck to the lad but being a wealthy club FGR already have several experienced strikers on the books. If he doesn't hit the ground running he'll be quickly shuffled back in the pack and won't get the chance he deserves.Would more than likely have been guaranteed a start at our place and a chance to play himself into form if he needed it.

I can't blame him for the move as it's close to his home and no doubt he's been given a wedge or cash, but I tend to agree with you. Let me caveat this and say I'd have loved to have him sign on, but if you take out the goals there were games he was chasing shadows. Maybe it was a purple patch?

We tend to run on a pretty wafer thin squad and Jim does tend to give lads a go (he peservered with Oliver when plenty others, including me, would have dropped him early on) so if he had a slow start he could have worked through it, whereas others may not be so forgiving.

It's still positive we have a core of key players together with plenty of time to hunt around for players to come in (particularly in attacking and wide areas and full back depending on what Mills decides).

[Castaway]

He says as much himself in a video interview. Said he got a short-term permanent contract at Morecambe in order to put himself in the shop window at other clubs.

The nature of the beast I guess of a club picking up scraps and having a shoe string budget.

I wonder if we would have done or could do things differently given the opportunity again? sign him on an 18 month contract? Would he have signed on that basis? On the contrary he could have turned out shite and we are lumped with a player on the books doing nothing.

Interesting that we have given a couple of lads two year contracts which for us is quite extravagant!

[Slanester]

The FGR forum response to Collins signing, is quite interesting.

[BerlinWaller]

He says as much himself in a video interview. Said he got a short-term permanent contract at Morecambe in order to put himself in the shop window at other clubs.

The nature of the beast I guess of a club picking up scraps and having a shoe string budget.

I wonder if we would have done or could do things differently given the opportunity again? sign him on an 18 month contract? Would he have signed on that basis? On the contrary he could have turned out shite and we are lumped with a player on the books doing nothing.

Interesting that we have given a couple of lads two year contracts which for us is quite extravagant!

There must have been an increase in budget for the club to be able to offer terms to the likes of Collins, Mandy and Zack. At one time we would have had no chance of competing with clubs with the budget of FGR or the size of Chesterfield.

[black morse]

He says as much himself in a video interview. Said he got a short-term permanent contract at Morecambe in order to put himself in the shop window at other clubs.

The nature of the beast I guess of a club picking up scraps and having a shoe string budget.

I wonder if we would have done or could do things differently given the opportunity again? sign him on an 18 month contract? Would he have signed on that basis? On the contrary he could have turned out shite and we are lumped with a player on the books doing nothing.

Interesting that we have given a couple of lads two year contracts which for us is quite extravagant!

There must have been an increase in budget for the club to be able to offer terms to the likes of Collins, Mandy and Zack. At one time we would have had no chance of competing with clubs with the budget of FGR or the size of Chesterfield.

2 out of those 3 have gone to other clubs and the third hasn't yet signed so I don't see that we have 'competed' that well. I assume the terms we offered them was less than the clubs they have joined. For all we know we might have offered them no more than the usual......whatever that may be!

[redrobo]

It's a well known fact that our geographical position doesn't do us any favours.

Both Mandy and Collins have gone to clubs nearer to their home base.

I just hope that with Zac now engaged to a Preston lass that we are able to sign him.

[Gone_Shrimping]

It's a well known fact that our geographical position doesn't do us any favours.

Both Mandy and Collins have gone to clubs nearer to their home base.

I just hope that with Zac now engaged to a Preston lass that we are able to sign him.

There's a number of prospective clubs close to Preston though

[Keith]

If we afford him an improved deal then are we not entitled to a transfer fee....??????

It isn't a "transfer fee", it is compensation for development. It depends on a number of issues, including length of time with the developing club. We'd have to demonstrate that we 'developed' Collins as a player. We might get a few quid on the basis of improving him as a player confidence wise, but it would be very minimal if anything at all.

[jbc.shrimp]

It's possible Jim had an idea this was on the cards which is why he signed Michael Howard.

[Ntini]

Not unsurprising that he hasn't signed for us, but hugely disappointing. That said I am surprised where he has gone. I fully understand he may have been offered a better deal closer to home, but will he play?

Another season with us, with anything near his form from last season, and he would be almost guaranteed a move back up the leagues. If he fails at FGR, then he's looking downwards in all likelihood. It's similar to Mandy - if he fails at Chesterfield in the league below, what then?

I get very frustrated when players leave clubs where they were one of the best players in search of fame and fortune, only to end up down the leagues or without a club. Such a waste if it happens to Collins.

Hope it works out for him and he finds his form again (though not against us, obviously!)

[Little Shrimp]

Would agree would the two above posts. Obviously there are other factors, but he was a guaranteed starter with us and had he kept up his end of season form, he most likely would have hit 20+ goals over a season. Young player with a bit of talent does that in League Two and they are guaranteed a move League One, probably with the odd Championship club taking a look. He most likely won't have that same status, initially at least, at FGR.

Feel for Jim as well. He'd obviously been after him for a while and even after a few forgettable loan spells in League Two, still went for him and gave him a chance.

As mentioned before, Luke Howard was likely signed with this scenario in mind. Fingers crossed he turns out well, apparently meant to be pretty pacy according to PNE fans, although not too much is known about him.

[cyprus-shrimp]

Personally, very disappointed that we haven't been able to hang on to Aaron, but overall I do believe that Jim has done a great job in getting so many to re-sign. Lots of comments about the great dressing room atmosphere and clearly there is much enjoyment in playing for MFC - great stuff. With regards the loss of Aaron, let's not forget that AJ has re-signed and if he stays fit next season could prove a major part of our "upcoming success"!!! We have also brought in Michael Howard from PNE who may well prove to be a great success, and of course Cole Stockton is back.
If we can get Zak Mills to sign up, I honestly don't believe that we are that far away from a damn good squad to start the season. I think that most of us would have been delighted if, at the end of last season, we were told that so many of that squad would be with us for the start of the new season.
All in all, there is a VERY positive feel about things right now. Well done to all concerned and let's hope that it continues.

[marky No.1]

Collins further down the pecking order?

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/s ... on-3710946

[Redalert1970]

What a strange comment

Collins started on Saturday so why does that push him further down the pecking order ????