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Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:10 am
by claretandy
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:12 am
by Newcastleclaret93
That’s concerning. I assume we couldn’t agree a contract
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:12 am
by DCWat
If that proves to be true, it’s a big, big shame. He’s exactly the sort of person and player we needed for next season.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:15 am
by beddie
Was starting to read it when the annoying advert appears asking you to subscribe, there doesn’t appear a way of getting rid of it. If anyone could post the actual article I’d be grateful.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:16 am
by RVclaret
That’s really, really concerning, especially given Collins is also likely to leave, given his low release clause.
So no manager, no captain, no clue…
Meltdown time.

Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:17 am
by williamjblazkowicz
Well that's not good.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:17 am
by fatboy47
Whether it's good or bad news depends on the quality of his replacement.
Ben must be expecting Prem football..and that'll probably ensure he's in another relegation battle next season, or a season on a mid-table teams bench.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:19 am
by RicardoMontalban
RVclaret wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:16 am
That’s really, really concerning, especially given Collins is also likely to leave, given his low release clause.
So no manager, no captain, no clue…
Meltdown time.
Where’s it been reported about a release clause?
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:21 am
by Newcastleclaret93
RVclaret wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:16 am
That’s really, really concerning, especially given Collins is also likely to leave, given his low release clause.
So no manager, no captain, no clue…
Meltdown time.
Come on RV your mr Positive. You can’t start saying stuff like this or there will be a meltdown
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:23 am
by RVclaret
RicardoMontalban wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:19 am
Where’s it been reported about a release clause?
Jason O'Connor via Twitter - he is usually bang on the money about Irish players (reported both our deals with Brady / Hendrick first).
He said there is a release clause and Prem clubs are sniffing.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:24 am
by Murger
The new managers job has gotten even bigger.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:24 am
by RVclaret
Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:21 am
Come on RV your mr Positive. You can’t start saying stuff like this or there will be a meltdown
I thought keeping the core together was really important.
And I do find it concerning that the deal with VK is dragging on this much.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:24 am
by clarethomer
beddie wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:15 am
Was starting to read it when the annoying advert appears asking you to subscribe, there doesn’t appear a way of getting rid of it. If anyone could post the actual article I’d be grateful.
If you are on an iPhone Beddie and using standard browser, you can switch to reader mode and it allows you to read it and get around that pop up.
Reader mode is accessed through pressing the ‘aA’ in the top left of your screen when you can see the URL.

- 7945A476-CEC8-4490-AD88-05D125D65C51.jpeg (177.85 KiB) Viewed 6854 times
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:26 am
by williamjblazkowicz
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:30 am
by Father Jack
How do you replace that much know-how and experience?
Not just about the club but also about the standards expected and about getting promoted out of the championship. And being the leader in the dressing room.
Would really hope that VK is on the phone now speaking to Ben and encouraging him to reconsider.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:30 am
by jedi_master
We’re in a world of trouble.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:31 am
by hoskinsgoalatswansea
Murger wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:24 am
The new managers job has gotten even bigger.
Selling the manager’s job has gotten even bigger.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:33 am
by taio
Would be a big loss.
Nothing going right these days.
The club is likely to end up in turmoil.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:33 am
by RVclaret
Father Jack wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:30 am
Would really hope that VK is on the phone now speaking to Ben and encouraging him to reconsider.
Is VK even in the building to do this? Who knows.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:34 am
by jedi_master
taio wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:33 am
Would be a big loss.
Nothing going right these days.
The club is likely to end up in turmoil.
I think we’re already there.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:34 am
by taio
jedi_master wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:34 am
I think we’re already there.
Not quite.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:36 am
by fatboy47
Father Jack wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:30 am
How do you replace that much know-how and experience?
Would really hope that VK is on the phone now speaking to Ben and encouraging him to reconsider.
Alternatively, you could really hope that VK has something in mind other than launching the ball vaguely in Weghorsts direction, and is planning to sign a genuine footballer to replace Ben.
Who knows? I don't.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:36 am
by bumba
So Kompany is supposedly the next manager, we have been linked with Taylor Harwood-Bellis and an out of contract older big wage player is now leaving?
Just sounds like a decision by VK to bring in younger players and THB is a very good player.
IF and yes I know it's an IF these scenarios are all true it wouldn't be the end of the world
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:36 am
by Les Lawrence
Bye Ben, Thanks for the memories, Another big earner off the books. Get shut of Kev now, and let's have a loan or 2 in, with Bobby Thomas.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:39 am
by FeedTheArf
Uh oh!
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:39 am
by jedi_master
bumba wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:36 am
So Kompany is supposedly the next manager, we have been linked with Taylor Harwood-Bellis and an out of contract older big wage player is now leaving?
Just sounds like a decision by VK to bring in younger players and THB is a very good player.
IF and yes I know it's an IF these scenarios are all true it wouldn't be the end of the world
I’d rather have Ben Mee than any young lad who may (or may not) be decent. There is no accounting for experience at that level, he’s been there, seen it and bought the T-Shirt (twice). There’s a lorry load of experience leaving this summer as is, we needed to retain at least some of what our success over the last decade has been built around.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:40 am
by RicardoMontalban
RVclaret wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:23 am
Jason O'Connor via Twitter - he is usually bang on the money about Irish players (reported both our deals with Brady / Hendrick first).
He said there is a release clause and Prem clubs are sniffing.
Makes no reference to what the release clause is.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:42 am
by Pearcey
Devastating news but I thought the longer it went on that this would happen. Can see the promoted clubs being all over him. What a player he has been for us, on and off the pitch.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:44 am
by ksrclaret
Very disappointed but I fully expected it.
The only way we’ll officially know though is when another club announces his signing. There won’t be a dicky bird out of our club.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:45 am
by Bordeauxclaret
I thought someone said he’d agreed a deal with us a few weeks ago?
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:46 am
by nyclaret
jedi_master wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:39 am
I’d rather have Ben Mee than any young lad who may (or may not) be decent. There is no accounting for experience at that level, he’s been there, seen it and bought the T-Shirt (twice). There’s a lorry load of experience leaving this summer as is, we needed to retain at least some of what our success over the last decade has been built around.
I think we’d all want Mee to stay but its obvious he’s decided to leave. Not much we can do about it.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:47 am
by Newcastleclaret93
RicardoMontalban wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:40 am
Makes no reference to what the release clause is.
A few people have direct messaged him and he’s confirmed that it’s around 20m mark
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:49 am
by bumba
Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:45 am
I thought someone said he’d agreed a deal with us a few weeks ago?
Think CT said it'd been agreed 2-3 weeks ago but it's one of two things if true
1) Kompany doesn't want him
2) Kompany hasn't signed yet so Mee has got frustrated and decided not to sign
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:49 am
by Newcastleclaret93
If Ben Mee isn’t buying into the plan then maybe it’s not as good as some posters want to make us believe.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:49 am
by DCWat
Les Lawrence wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:36 am
Bye Ben, Thanks for the memories, Another big earner off the books. Get shut of Kev now, and let's have a loan or 2 in, with Bobby Thomas.
That doesn’t to me sound like the basis for a promising season. We’ve built our success on being solid at the back. We had a huge rebuilding job to do prior to this news.
We can only hope that Kompany (assuming he does join) can rebuild a team as well as Viera did at Palace, last season. It’s worrying, it’s not an easy task for an experienced manager, let alone one with very limited experience.
I don’t see who we’ve brought in that’s going to allow us to act quickly and decisively in the transfer market, which is likely imperative with all of the players departing, positions that we needed to strengthen anyway and the short turnaround to the new season.
Throw into the mix the uncertainty about our finances and it’s not looking good for next season, at this point in time.
And yet we still hear nothing from the bloke supposedly leading the club.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:50 am
by bumba
jedi_master wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:39 am
I’d rather have Ben Mee than any young lad who may (or may not) be decent. There is no accounting for experience at that level, he’s been there, seen it and bought the T-Shirt (twice). There’s a lorry load of experience leaving this summer as is, we needed to retain at least some of what our success over the last decade has been built around.
I agree I'd rather him stay, just trying to give another view on it.
Hopefully it's a lack of news making reporters make stuff up but it's all a bit quiet at the moment.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:50 am
by Les Lawrence
20million,thought he was out of contract. Good move for him if he can get one. Only played 21 games last season and his legs are going
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:51 am
by RVclaret
Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:47 am
A few people have direct messaged him and he’s confirmed that it’s around 20m mark
Don’t think that’s the case. Can you show evidence of this?
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:52 am
by RVclaret
Only positive I’m thinking here is that IF VK is the new man, he wants to play football on the deck, with retaining possession in the defence being quite a bit of the part of the system. Mee, as much as we love him, has never been good at this and loses the ball way too often.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:52 am
by Newcastleclaret93
RVclaret wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:51 am
Don’t think that’s the case. Can you show evidence of this?
Rv I assume you have Twitter, what’s your addy on it Il forward the pics from a group chat.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:54 am
by DCWat
Les Lawrence wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:50 am
20million,thought he was out of contract. Good move for him if he can get one. Only played 21 games last season and his legs are going
I wish we could stop with this “his legs have gone” nonsense. He picked up an injury! We had the same nonsense with Cork.
20 million is being mentioned as Collins’ release clause.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:54 am
by taio
Les Lawrence wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:50 am
20million,thought he was out of contract. Good move for him if he can get one. Only played 21 games last season and his legs are going
Collins
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:59 am
by mybloodisclaret
Can't see a way that an incumbent manager, either VK or anyone else disposes of the club captain who has been here for 10 years, and would be one of the top 4 defenders in the Championship.
Got to say it's quite unnerving, the tweet from Ben's relative suggested he was staying and with that offered a lot of stability and consistency to the transition that we are going to go through.
Still no new manager, apparently no captain and still no idea what is going on.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:00 am
by IanMcL
Looks like 90% of the aqua is leaving or being assisted to leave.
Disaster and it will be like watching a different club...
.if we can actually sign a team, in time!
A bunch of strangers.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:00 am
by Jamesy
RVclaret wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:24 am
I thought keeping the core together was really important.
And I do find it concerning that the deal with VK is dragging on this much.
You still as confident VK is coming now?
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:02 am
by Newcastleclaret93
No one has caught that Jack Cork has also not been offered a contract according to the Athletic.
Two massive losses for next season.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:03 am
by jrgbfc
On a free transfer Ben Mee would be a steady enough squad player for most of the bottom 6 sides. He's had a lot of protection though playing for us in Dyche's setup.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:03 am
by BuryClaret
Leaves a huge hole to fill - not just in terms of the body, but his leadership role. He’s another Mr Burnley FC.
Will be very difficult to find a replacement. If Collins stays he steps up as captain, but for me we need someone with experience to replace Ben, rather than going down the young CB / loan route.
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:03 am
by SalisburyClaret
I’m sure Collins isn’t putting confidential contract information on Twitter
If Mee leaves Long and Thomas will be fine
Re: Ben Mee Leaving !
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:03 am
by RVclaret
Jamesy wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:00 am
You still as confident VK is coming now?
I’ve posted my thoughts on this on the ‘next manager thread’.
I’d like to believe Nixon, that it’s down to work permits / small details of the contract.
But the longer it drags on, the more you wonder if there’s another problem. Other overseas managers this season have been announced ‘subject to work permit approval’ which is a formality. If VK and staff are just down to work permit, why not just announce him?