Guiseley still waiting on Hanson tribunal (From Wharfedale Observer)

Guiseley still waiting on Hanson tribunal

9:20am Thursday 21st January 2010

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GUISELEY AFC have been bemused by press reports stating that the tribunal regarding their former player James Hanson was due to be held this week.

Bradford City said that the transfer fee for striker Hanson was to have been decided by a Football Association tribunal on Wednesday but Guiseley Chairman Phil Rogerrson said that that was news to them.

The two clubs have failed to come to an agreement over a fee for Hanson, who joined Bradford City in the summer, after being leading scorer for the Guiseley side for the past two seasons.

Dure to Hanson’s age, and the fact that he was a contracted player at Guiseley and had been offered a new contract, City are due to pay a fee for him.

There has however been a wide difference of opinion between the two clubs as to what that fee should be.

Rogerson said this week: “We have been asked on three occasions to name dates suitable to us for the tribunal to take place but we have never actually been given a date. After reading in an evening newspaper that the tribunal should have taken place this Wednesday I contacted the FA as we had had no letter regarding this.

“The FA assured me that no arrangement had been made for the tribunal to go ahead on Wednesday as City had stated but the FA did ask if we could accomodate a date next week for a hearing, possibly to be held in Manchester.”

Rookie Hanson has been a revelation with City, scoring eight goals since signing his first pro contract at Valley Parade six months ago.

It was no surprise to Guiseley though, where he was leading scorer for the past two seasons after his potential was initially spotted by former Guiseley manager Terry Dolan, when his side met Eccleshill United in a West Riding County Cup tie.

Hanson was invited to move up to the UniBond Premier Division with Guiseley and took it all in his stride as he continued to rattle in the goals for the Nethermoor Park side.

City obviously spotted his potential in pre-season games between the clubs and also kept an eye on him through former Guiseley coach Mark Ellis, who was also coaching at City.

But City and their non-league neighbours have been poles apart in their valuation of the striker.

Rogerson said: “They initially made us a derisory offer of £2,500. Negotiations have continued over the past six months and we have moved nearer to our valuation of the player but not near enough for the liking of our Board of Directors.

“If City were to split the difference between what they are now saying and what we are saying we should be somewhere near a fair deal in my view.”

The Bantams say the price tag should not be influenced by Hanson’s performances since joining them.

City point to the £7,500 they received from Barnet for Luke Medley as a realistic yardstick.

Rogerson added: “If they thought that was fair then why did they start off by offering us just £2,500 for James?”

It is understood that City came back with a final four-figure offer topped up by the gate receipts from a pre-season friendly as well as a 25 per cent sell-on clause in any future fee.

Guiseley however were looking for full value for a player who was their leading scorer over the past two seasons and bearing in mind that within their own league they had to pay £15,000 to bag the services of fellow striker Adam Muller.

The offer of a pre-season game is also not that attractive. Pre-season games do not attract big sums in gate receipts as pro clubs inevitably send out reserve or youth teams and the paying spectators have become a little weary of this.

City’s joint-chairman Mark Lawn said: “We’ve based a lot of our price on what we got for Medley. It’s a very similar situation and that should come into it. I think we are confident of getting a sensible ruling. We’ve offered Guiseley a sensible amount of money.”

Hanson’s form has been a major highlight of City’s season and even a Championship club are believed to have kept an eye on his progress.

But City manager Stuart McCall has not been told of any interest in the big striker but he believes Hanson is relishing his regular run in the side in his debut year.

“As far as I know, the only people looking at him are the fans that come and pay to watch,” said McCall.

“I think James is very raw and learning all the time. He’s played more games than we expected because of injuries to Micky Boulding and Peter Thorne but he’s carried the burden very well.

“We’re very happy with him and I know from speaking to James that he’s very happy here and just wants to carry on playing his football for us.”

It is understood that this is the first time a league club has been taken to arbitration by a non-league club.

l Guiseley hope to be back in UniBond League action this weekend when they travel to play Worksop (at their temporary home at Ilkeston). This will be followed by a home game on Tuesday against Buxton (7.45pm).

Their opponents in the next round of the FA Trophy - Guiseley are just three games from a Wembley final - are not yet known.

A contingent from the Guiseley club went to run the rule over their opponents when Gainsborough Trinity and Tamworth drew 0-0 on Tuesday night. The sides will replay next Tuesday prior to the winners visiting Guiseley in the third round of the competition on Saturday, January 30.

This Saturday Guiseley Reserves also hope to be back in action with a home game against Thackley (3pm).

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