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http://www.skysports.com/football/news/1...sunderland

Dijobodji returned after being 11 weeks late, Djong still hasn't, both have wages stopped after not returning

21.5M worth of transfer fees plus EPL wages (now slightly reduced upon relegation)

Very sad state of affairs for new owners and manager it`s overtones affect most clubs outside the big spending zone

the two players who cost that much would now fetch so little in the transfer market, N`dong nearly went to Watford then to Italy and France for 6.5M but apparently wages held him back (Unlike Kone who has gone on loan to Lique 1 on reduced wages to reignite his career)

If they are sacked the club will lose 21.5M on transfers and surprisingly can be sued for unfair dismissal!

Cattermole and Ovideo both on larger wages have settled down and got on with playing in league one and led by example, Ovideo would rather move to a new club but he`s let his talking happen on the field

Whether its the agents or the two players, if player power wins here it has the potential for a huge knock on effect throughout football -Imagine your 30 million striker going on strike?

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Sunderland AFC has given notice under its contract with Papy Djilobodji. Djilobodji, who was under contract to SAFC until June 2020, indicated in June 2018 that he wished to leave the club.

In order to facilitate that desire, the club entered into a written agreement with the player allowing him to spend the month of July on voluntary unpaid leave.

When that period came to an end, the player was expected either to leave for a new club – having reached a deal satisfactory to himself and SAFC - or to return in shape to play professional football. Instead, he returned to Sunderland over a month later, in the first week of September, ignoring written requests for his return. On his return, he was subjected to the same fitness test that his fellow professionals had undertaken on their return. He comprehensively failed that test.

As a result, Sunderland AFC can confirm that it has accepted Papy Djilobodji’s repudiatory breaches of contract and notice of the same has been provided to the player.



Interesting situation, one wonders if Sunderland are still paying transfer fees to former clubs to these two
Whilst this means Djob is no longer a SAFC player can he now be sued for repudiation of contract for unwillingness to perform, breach of contract
Will SAFC be entitled to anything if he finds a new club via signing on fee?
Repercussions for other clubs if player power wins here

[St Charles Owl]

THese two epitomize the money grabbing nature of some players!! Happy to take the PL money but not happy to drop a league or two when they don’t perform. Lets hope the club win in this one, players are paid to play and these two have not put themselves in a position to do that.

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Credit to "Roker Report" for the following article, couldn't make this up!

After Papy Djilobodji was sacked, the future of Didier Ndong is still up in the air with the Gabon international still AWOL from the club.
According to reports in his homeland, Ndong is terrified of the repercussions from his failure to return to Sunderland and believes he may get arrested at the airport should he actually return.
Speaking to Gabonese outlet iSport, a ‘source’ close to the player says a London-based negotiator has been commissioned to talk to Jack Ross about a potential return to the club for the player:
In reality, Didier Ndong is afraid of reprisals and other sanctions that may be imposed on him by the club. He even thinks he will be arrested at the airport because he has left the club for almost 7 months.
Remember that the club is very up against him, including some of the audience. So it’s hard for him right now.
For this purpose, we commissioned a London-based negotiator to negotiate with Jack Ross, the team’s manager, for his return to the Blacks Cats. We hope they understand.
We understand that the club are in talks with the player’s representatives in order to work out a deal and are hopeful that the situation is nearing its end, with the likely outcome being that Ndong will be released from his contract in exchange for a fee and a cut of future income from potential transfer sales.

Which has been followed up a few days later with

After the story from yesterday which suggested Didier Ndong was too afraid to return to Sunderland due to a fear of being arrested at the airport because of his self-imposed exile, it appears as if the player may have had a change of heart.

Gabonese news outlet iSport claim Didier Ndong left Morocco and is returning to Sunderland imminently.

The report claims Ndong will return with the hope of being reintegrated back into Jack Ross’ squad and will be represented in his meeting with Sunderland’s manager by football agent Seb Ewan and the PFA.

The article quotes Ndong himself saying he is willing to take a paycut and help Sunderland with their aim of promotion:

  I’m ready to see my salary reduced, as long as I’m putting my boots on with Sunderland. I’m ready to fight to get the club back into the second division

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Ndong turns up

https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2018/9/...and-return

Didier Ndong has finally returned to England, as the midfielder was pictured at Newcastle Airport ahead of showdown talks with Sunderland.

It’s been an interesting week to say the least regarding Ndong, with the Gabonese international first fearing arrest if he attempted to return to the club and then a u-turn as he claimed he was willing to take a pay cut and fight to help the team achieve promotion.

iSport claim discussions will begin early next week but after yesterday’s 4-1 win over Rochdale, Jack Ross said he hasn’t had any dialogue with the player or his representatives:

   There’s been no dialogue with me.

   I did read a report, a story yesterday, that one of his representatives had contacted me and that is not the case.

   I know there has been communication with the club with some of his representatives, or people who are portraying themselves as his representatives, but I don’t know any more than that.

   I think it’s been a long, complicated, matter and we thought we were getting close to a solution but we will see how that pans out.

   Today it is of no real interest to me, we’ll see how it plays out in the coming days.

[St Charles Owl]

Bring him in, sit him and his agent down, offer them a cup of tea and then take no more than 10 seconds over telling him he is fired, then pick up phone and tell your assistant to not bother with the tea!!!!

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They really have done things properly even down to the legal wording when they got rid of Dijobodji
Ndong they could a few months ago not 6.5M for him but he turned down Torino and Benfica due to wages! Fair play to Lamine Kone who actually took a pay cut to go on loan to Strasbourg and kickstart his career again

Read yesterday the average wage in Gabon is £60 a week even worse Daniel Cousin has been made co-manager of the National side!

But yes sack him and take a cut off future wages and transfers

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https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2018/9/...at-the-aol

Sunderland have sacked Didier Ndong after a meeting with the player at the Academy of Light today.

The 24-year old still had around three years to run on his deal, but the club have relieved him of his duties following a long string of unprofessional conduct, which culminated with the player refusing to turn up for pre-season training in June.

We understand that the club have served notice to the player, and have made it very clear to him that he’s likely to face legal action in the future.

[St Charles Owl]

Well done Sunderland!!!

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From 40k a week to training with a Gabonese 3rd Division side, well worth a read

Why Didier Ndong had to return to Gabon after Sunderland sacking and what he's doing now

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/foo...-1-9385488