Ben Mee Leaving !

[ClaretAndJew]

If he joins Tarks a team in the Premier league will have a brilliant centre half pairing, if the same team sign Pope they will have an unbelievable core.

A team with those 3 playing together would never be relegated.

[warksclaret]

Plays internationally yet hasn’t even been selected in the latest squad.

For the record he’s made two appearances for Ireland in 2016. He regularly gets beaten to a squad position by championship players or u21s that have played a handful of games.

Kevin Long has been with us 12 years.It has suited the club to have him in the squad as it means we dont need to buy a back up CH. There is a reason however that no one has come in for him, and the few loans we have have been mainly League 1 or lower. He is not a Championship CH for a club pushing for promotion

[mybloodisclaret]

I’m sure Collins isn’t putting confidential contract information on Twitter
If Mee leaves Long and Thomas will be fine

Is that you Kev???

[Boss Hogg]

A team with those 3 playing together would never be relegated.

Not if they had any sort of midfield in front of them.

[Steddyman]

He more than Tarks had a greater influence on our results than any other player. We rarely won when he wasn't playing under Dyche.

But, this will be Ben's decision. It was clear in that video he released at the end of the season, that he was undecided on staying and we have to respect his choice.

Brilliant player and servant of the club and I will miss him a lot. Thanks Ben.

[The Enclosure]

A team with those 3 playing together would never be relegated.

You are correct.....oh wait a minute!

[Steve1956]

A team with those 3 playing together would never be relegated.

Hang on....its just happened..hasn't it?

[Zlatan]

Hang on....its just happened..hasn't it?

Had we gone into the last 8 games with Mee and Tarkowski we would still be Premier League IMO

[ClaretAndJew]

I forgot the smiley face

[Steve1956]

I forgot the smiley face

Are you sure?

[Steve1956]

Had we gone into the last 8 games with Mee and Tarkowski we would still be Premier League IMO

Sadly Zlatan,we will never know will we?

[KRBFC]

If Ben Mee isn’t buying into the plan then maybe it’s not as good as some posters want to make us believe.

You really believe that? This will be a financial decision by Ben Mee, nothing else. Leaving on a free, get a huge signing on fee and long contract at a different club. One last big payday.

[KRBFC]

If Mee leaves Long and Thomas will be fine

F**king hell, doesn't bare thinking about that partnership. Fine for what? just avoiding relegation again? I rate Thomas but I've seen him play maybe twice, entirely different to playing 46 competitive league games of real professional football.

[RVclaret]

You really believe that? This will be a financial decision by Ben Mee, nothing else. Leaving on a free, get a huge signing on fee and long contract at a different club. One last big payday.

Agree. He won’t be short of PL suitors either. That will help his agent push for the highest deal in negotiations. I’d imagine any of the promoted clubs would want him, then add some poor defences like Southampton, Leeds and even Newcastle.

[Newcastleclaret93]

You really believe that? This will be a financial decision by Ben Mee, nothing else. Leaving on a free, get a huge signing on fee and long contract at a different club. One last big payday.

Financial to a certain degree.

But surely a decent contract here and the potential to join the management team/coach etc… also gives him a long term option that he might not have elsewhere.

I truly believe that if he’s not interested then the plan for BFC must not align with his ambitions.

[taio]

You really believe that? This will be a financial decision by Ben Mee, nothing else. Leaving on a free, get a huge signing on fee and long contract at a different club. One last big payday.

And hoping to play PL football I imagine too

[RVclaret]

Financial to a certain degree.

But surely a decent contract here and the potential to join the management team/coach etc… also gives him a long term option that he might not have elsewhere.

I truly believe that if he’s not interested then the plan for BFC must not align with his ambitions.

What do you mean, the plan for BFC? To win promotion this season? That’s the plan, along with a clear rebuild, simple.

[Buxtonclaret]

We need to sign John for a stiff back three

Love it!
Even though l splattered coffee over my cornflakes.

[taio]

Financial to a certain degree.

But surely a decent contract here and the potential to join the management team/coach etc… also gives him a long term option that he might not have elsewhere.

I truly believe that if he’s not interested then the plan for BFC must not align with his ambitions.

I suspect life after playing will be well down the list or not even on it at this juncture

[Newcastleclaret93]

What do you mean, the plan for BFC? To win promotion this season? That’s the plan, along with a clear rebuild, simple.

That’s exactly what I mean.

I honestly believe that Ben doesn’t think that plan is going to work that’s why he’s jumping ship.

Like I said he’s potentially leaving a job for life for what a two year contract somewhere?

If Burnley’s plan is to be back in the prem in 12 months time, then it’s just a one season drop for him.

[Foreverly Claret]

This is getting worse and worse ! Snowball effect .Perhaps we should be thinking about who DOES want to stay .When are we going to get something positive ? ...PLEASE

[ClaretAndJew]

That’s exactly what I mean.

I honestly believe that Ben doesn’t think that plan is going to work that’s why he’s jumping ship.

Like I said he’s potentially leaving a job for life for what a two year contract somewhere?

If Burnley’s plan is to be back in the prem in 12 months time, then it’s just a one season drop for him.

He's a football player, he's got a job for life anywhere. Someone would take him and pay him a wage.

[Zlatan]

In truth, if anyone has doubts about staying I’d show them the door. We need 100% committed players for the challenge ahead.

[ClaretTony]

I thought someone said he’d agreed a deal with us a few weeks ago?

I said I’d heard such but it is a few week ago, probably around the time Jay Rod signed. But heard nothing since.

[daveisaclaret]

There's no such thing as a job for life in football and Ben Mee isn't foolish enough to expect one. The next manager might think he's a ***** and not want to work with him and it'd be ridiculous for the club to say otherwise.

Huge, huge blow to us but it's happening because he can do better right now, no different to Tarkowski.

[KRBFC]

That’s exactly what I mean.

I honestly believe that Ben doesn’t think that plan is going to work that’s why he’s jumping ship.

Like I said he’s potentially leaving a job for life for what a two year contract somewhere?

If Burnley’s plan is to be back in the prem in 12 months time, then it’s just a one season drop for him.

A job for life? where? He'll be tossed to the side by Pace and the club as soon as he isn't good enough.

He'll earn an enormous sign on fee elsewhere and a nice 2-3 year contract at the age of almost 32, probably PL football too.

[tiger76]

I’m sure Collins isn’t putting confidential contract information on Twitter
If Mee leaves Long and Thomas will be fine

If Long and Thomas are our CB pairing next season, forget any idea of a promotion challenge.

The very spine of our team is being dismantled, Mee and Tarks leaving on frees, and Nick Pope also likely to go.

Assuming VK is our new gaffer then he's sure got his work cut out to build a cohesive team in a few short weeks.

[Newcastleclaret93]

A job for life? where? He'll be tossed to the side by Pace and the club as soon as he isn't good enough.

He'll earn an enormous sign on fee elsewhere and a nice 2-3 year contract at the age of almost 32, probably PL football too.

Fair enough, but Ben Mee has never come across as that type of guy (to me anyway).

I think there’s more at play than a two year contract somewhere else.

[gawthorpe_view]

On CT's squad list, it shows a + symbol after the contract expiry year, meaning it's the club's option to extend if they so wish.

So are they saying we're not taking up our option?

[BurnleyFC]

Vincent Kompany will be getting a game next season at this rate.

[Elizabeth]

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.

Not sure if anyone has posted it but if they haven't, type Ben Mee into Google and you will find it is one of the updates that come up. This is how I managed to read it

[quoonbeatz]

Ben Mee is nearly 33, played only 21 games last season and has given 10 years top drawer service to Burnley. Whilst he'd undoubtedly start every game he was fit next season, it's unlikely he'd start every game the season after if we got promoted.

A huge loss in terms of his leadership but understandable if he wants another PL contract in the twilight of his career. Players have the power these days.

If he goes, nobody can begrudge him.

[DCWat]

That’s exactly what I mean.

I honestly believe that Ben doesn’t think that plan is going to work that’s why he’s jumping ship.

Like I said he’s potentially leaving a job for life for what a two year contract somewhere?

If Burnley’s plan is to be back in the prem in 12 months time, then it’s just a one season drop for him.

What plan, how has he been party to a plan with no manager in place?

[gawthorpe_view]

What plan, how has he been party to a plan with no manager in place?

Well for 5 or 6 weeks he was part of the management team so probably has a better insight than most.

[JohnMcGreal]

It's a big blow for us because I think that sort of experience is really valuable at this level.

But as others have already said, if he has one last opportunity to play PL football, then he's earned that right. I wouldn't expect him to sacrifice that. It's just another challenge we have to deal with.

There'll be plenty more outgoings over the coming weeks, no doubt, but losing Mee will probably be the one that hits the hardest. He's been a massive part of the club for a decade.

[Newcastleclaret93]

What plan, how has he been party to a plan with no manager in place?

I might be completely wrong but Ben Mee coming out a little while back saying he was happy to retire at Burnley and now all of a sudden he’s leaving tells me a bit of a story.

I assume the owners will openly discuss the future targets/plans with the players? How else can a club expect to progress if not everyone is pulling in the same direction.

[DCWat]

Well for 5 or 6 weeks he was part of the management team so probably has a better insight than most.

He was involved in the management team attempting to avoid relegation, not plan for life in the Championship.

[CFS]

Get rid it's a long hard season if he's up for the cash see ya.

[DCWat]

I might be completely wrong but Ben Mee coming out a little while back saying he was happy to retire at Burnley and now all of a sudden he’s leaving tells me a bit of a story.

I assume the owners will openly discuss the future targets/plans with the players? How else can a club expect to progress if not everyone is pulling in the same direction.

I wouldn’t assume anything with ALK in charge.

[Steve1956]

Rats leaving a sinking ship....money trumps loyalty every single time....if you don't want to play for the badge ..fair enough...see ya.
Don't care who it is Dyche or Mee no one is bigger than the club.

[daveisaclaret]

It's crazy to think Ben Mee hasn't been told our future plans. He will have asked for them in contract negotiations, and refusing to tell him would be silly.

[Andreshotboots]

Let’s not throw all the poo at the new owners door, these contract situations are the result of the previous regime sticking with tried and trusted older players and allowing their contracts all the expire at a similar time!!

Better players often leave following relegation like Pope and Tarky. Fulham and Bournemouth were probably the exception as they’ve got owners who regularly write off millions of pounds without even blinking..

At this point it doesn’t look great, but I’ll hold my judgement until we line up for the first Championship fixture and assess our squad then before pressing the big red panic button.

[daveisaclaret]

Rats leaving a sinking ship....money trumps loyalty every single time....if you don't want to play for the badge ..fair enough...see ya.
Don't care who it is Dyche or Mee no one is bigger than the club.

Ten years service, one of our best players in the modern era, been a great captain and as soon as he leaves he's a rat. Thats what I call loyalty!

[Steve1956]

Ten years service, one of our best players in the modern era, been a great captain and as soon as he leaves he's a rat. Thats what I call loyalty!

Fair enough your allowed an opinion....just like everyone else.

[ClaretTony]

Rats leaving a sinking ship....money trumps loyalty every single time....if you don't want to play for the badge ..fair enough...see ya.
Don't care who it is Dyche or Mee no one is bigger than the club.

Rats leaving a sinking ship?

Ben Mee has been brilliant for us over a long period of time. He’s been an outstanding club captain for the last three seasons.

The ship may well be sinking but whatever decision he makes, we should be proud of and thankful to Ben Mee for what he’s given us.

[Venkys4eva]

On CT's squad list, it shows a + symbol after the contract expiry year, meaning it's the club's option to extend if they so wish.

So are they saying we're not taking up our option?

Perhaps the new manager doesn't want to...

[daveisaclaret]

Fair enough your allowed an opinion....just like everyone else.

Yeah it's just that some opinions are incredibly stupid.

[DCWat]

Rats leaving a sinking ship?

Ben Mee has been brilliant for us over a long period of time. He’s been an outstanding club captain for the last three seasons.

The ship may well be sinking but whatever decision he makes, we should be proud of and thankful to Ben Mee for what he’s given us.

Exactly. He’d been top drawer for us both on and off the pitch.

[Steve1956]

Yeah it's just that some opinions are incredibly stupid.

Ok I bow to your superiority

[claptrappers_union]

Exciting times