Charlton Athletic have certainly found that out the hard way as talismanic striker Lyle Taylor has confirmed that he won’t play for them again this season.
Fans can complain and moan as much as they want, but this is the brutal reality of the sport and it’s a reality none of us like. The COVID-19 pandemic as thrown a number of spanners in the works, and this is just one of the complications professional clubs have had to deal with.
No Deal
Taylor will be out of contract at the end of the season and doesn’t want to risk getting injured and ruining the chance for one last payday. He’s been linked with moves to Burnley or Preston and could do a job for either of those sides.
The 30-year-old was a driving force behind Lee Bowyer’s side getting promoted from League One as he scored 25 league goals, and has hit 11 in 22 this campaign.
But after a nomadic career that has seen him play for 12 clubs, he deserves his final chance at earning decent money for retirement beckons.
Hurt
It’ll hurt Charlton and their fans, who picked him up on a free and treated the player well, but at this stage of a career Taylor has to be selfish and look after himself. If Charlton were prepared to offer increased terms or a deal with more security, then this situation might not be upon them.
For whatever reason they couldn’t, but that doesn’t mean that Taylor should put his economic and physical health at risk for the London side.
Wheeling and Dealing
In the history of the transfer market, we’ve seen all sorts of tricks played out by players and their agents to secure a move.
At least the forward has been open and honest with Bowyer about his reasons for refusing to play, and has told the press he feels his player is justified in taking that course of action.
It stings, but the player is well within his rights to withdraw his labour from Charlton.