Statement from Glentoran FC: 12th December 2013.
Glentoran FC confirms that Jimmy Callacher has refused the offer of a new, improved contract with the club and indicated that he wishes to join Linfield.
We appreciate that our supporters will want to understand both the current circumstances and what we have been doing to negotiate with a player who has been at the Oval since the age of 12
Jimmy was approached in May with a view to extending his contract along with a number of other members of the Cup Winning first team squad. At that point he refused to enter into negotiations. Earlier this season he outlined his conditions for remaining at Glentoran. Each of these conditions was immediately met – a significant payrise, a 3 year contract with the option of a fourth, and the guarantee of a testimonial season in the final year of the new contract.
To the surprise of the manager and the club, Jimmy refused to sign the contract on these agreed terms. The club was then surprised to read clearly leaked information in the press that Linfield were interested in the player and disappointed to read Jimmy discuss his contract situation with the Belfast Telegraph. This discussion would have been more correctly and productively held in private with his club.
On December 3rd the club received a formal, written request from Linfield to speak to Jimmy. We had previously received enquiries from other clubs, including a player exchange offer. These approaches had been rejected on the basis that we had already agreed terms with the player and awaited his signature.
Glentoran FC has no interest in keeping any player who does not want to be part of the manager’s rebuilding programme. Therefore Jimmy is free to join any club willing to meet our valuation of the player and his own high valuation of himself.
Jimmy Callacher has been with Glentoran since he signed as a 12 year old. As a club with a strong commitment to youth football, Glentoran - through the Academy and through the parent club - has invested considerable time and money in developing him into the established first team player he has become. If Linfield or any other club are interested in making an offer during the January transfer window they will need to meet our high valuation. If he does not leave the club in January Glentoran will be due a considerable development fee at the end of the season. Either way the player will categorically not leave Glentoran on the cheap. Nor under such circumstances will he play again for Glentoran.