Often Partisan

Randolph Rejects Deal

Birmingham City confirmed yesterday that goalkeeper Darren Randolph has rejected the offer of a new contract and is exercising his right to leave the club as per the Bosman ruling at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old Irish keeper made 92 appearances for Blues after signing on a Bosman free transfer from Scottish Premiership side Motherwell in the summer of 2013. He follows his understudy Colin Doyle out of the exit door and his exit means Rowett will have to bring in one or two new keepers for the new season.

I have to admit my feelings are somewhat ambivalent with respect to Randolph going. I’m not going to say he wasn’t any good because that would be a lie; while there were weaknesses defending his near post Randolph is a good shot stopper and a good Championship level goalkeeper. That being said, I don’t think he’s going to be impossible to replace either and as such I’m not fussed by him rejecting a new deal either.

I think it’s highly unlikely Rowett will now offer a new deal to Doyle. I’m sure Rowett will have been very aware that Randolph may move on and the fact the manager was prepared to release Doyle before Randolph made a decision says to me Rowett has a plan B in place for this eventuality.

It’s also my hope we only look to bring in one keeper. I’m of the opinion Townsend is good enough to be on the bench and as such I’d like to see Rowett use the wage budget allocated to both Randolph and Doyle to bring in a quality replacement. Who that replacement could be I’m not sure – but I have enough faith in Rowett and his staff that they will be able to find someone who would be a good fit for the team to not worry about who it might be.

Randolph’s departure leaves just Koby Arthur of the players offered a new deal to decide whether he wants to stay or not; there have been noises that he will go but I’m unsure as to if he will or not. However, unlike Randolph as Arthur is under 24 and Blues have offered him a new deal the same as or better as the deal is he currently on, Arthur will attract a compensation fee should he decide to move to another club.

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45 Responses to “Randolph Rejects Deal”

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    Townsend may be good enough but would a season on loan at a average League One be more beneficial

  • AJ says:

    Not really, I reckon rowett will want him to push his new number one for a starting berth

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I’ll shed no tears at Randolph going. Thank you and goodbye. I’d say the same to Arthur if he goes.

    Not having seen him play in the flesh, I can’t say whether Townsend is good enough to be No.2 yet, so I’ll take OP’s word for it. I think Rowett has to bring in an established keeper, with him being our No.1, he’s got to get it right. Foderingham, I don’t think is any better than Randolph tbh. He looked very shaky in the play off games.

  • Blue Steve says:

    Have to agree with this assessment. I thought Randolph was a slightly above average championship keeper. He had some strengths ( one on ones and short range shot stopping, kicking) and some weaknesses ( Long range dipping shots and crosses) One of the reasons we conceded so many goals from set pieces was due to Randolph’s lack of presence in the box. I’d like to see a tall keeper who can kick as well as Randolph. Isn’t Man Utds Ben Amos out of contract?

  • Dave Mann says:

    Julian and Michael , NO, no more going out on loan for Townsend … He’s got to establish himself now like butland did at the same age .. Staffs ,we’ve all got favourites and you obviously did not rate Randolph or now fotheringham, we’re not in a position to be fussy or judge mental , we’re loosing half our first 11 and with mclaren leaving Derby next week the shit could really hit the fan!! Ime ad your taking it all very calmly in your stride .. It’s alright saying we can move on and push on but ime getting less and less confident as every passing spring day goes by .. Am I paranoid!! Kro

    • StaffsBlue says:

      Short answer? Yes lol

      • Dave Mann says:

        Because I care ! Kro

        • StaffsBlue says:

          None of us are privvy to what’s going on inside Rowett’s head, or what plans he has. We’ll just have to wait and see. For me, he’s proved so far that he’s not one to panic… so I think you should take a leaf out of his book Dave. It’ll be alright on the night I’m sure. :)

    • steve says:

      Paul Clement will go to Derby.Rowett is going nowhere Dave.So yes,i agree with Staffs. You’re being paranoid. GR still has to prove himself before one of the top championship or lower half prem teams come in for him. As for Randolph ? Nothing special imo.Rumours are he will go to West Ham but he won’t be a No 1

  • Mitchell says:

    I keep repeating myself I know,but how on earth can we “push on”. We are a club almost skint, not able to compete with at least 14 other Championship clubs in the transfers and good players leaving. Loan players of last season will go the same way as the previous one with the likes of Macheda etc.going elsewhere. We are at present on the same level as Rotherham, Huddersfield, Bolton and Charlton regarding finances. Our redeeming feature is the Manager. Give me a respectable 12th next term and no Chinese nasty surprises.

    • BhamCityJulian says:

      With respect Mitchell: rubbish. We have a £13m facility from our next owners to dip in to. GR knows what he is doing by letting two players go who aren’t up be able to support a promotion challenge. The new No. 1 will be appreciably better.

      If we were ‘skint’ we wouldn’t be relaying the pitch either

    • nickywicky says:

      seeing as we finished 10th with mostly loan players this year after missing out on the first 12 games i think 12th is a bit pessimistic and we should be aiming for the playoffs if GR gets his 5 quality players that he wants then it will make a big difference and we will be able to bring in some loan players again this year!

  • Dave Mann says:

    Mitchell, i tend to agree with you pal! The players we are loosing are our first team and posts on here think it’s no problem and I truly hope there right ….but painefully I don’t think so .. It’s going To be a long hot summer .. Yeah really! Kro

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I think a lot depends what he’s going to do with regard to Townsend, Grounds and Spector. Will Townsend be installed as No.2, or be loaned out? Will Spector now be used (mainly) as a centre back? Will Grounds continue at left back, or will he be switched inside?

    For me, I think we’re going to need at least, a goalkeeper, a right back, a left back, a centre back, a ball-player in midfield, if Gray and/or Arthur leave, a left winger/midfielder. Anyone else have thoughts on which positions we need to fill?

    • Blue Steve says:

      My thoughts are we only fill the positions we need to with some quality. I echo what Dan said in a previous port. Attempt to get Kiernan, Tesche, and Fabrini and a Left winger and a striker. If Gray and Arthur leave we will need to re-inforce the wings as well.

    • steve says:

      Definately another couple of strikers.

  • Dave Mann says:

    At this rate staffs we’re need to fill most positions …….I go to most games and support my club all over the country … As it stands NOW were relegated with what we’ve got left . … The GR. factor needs a majic formula , and fans like us can’t do naff all About it !kro

  • ritchiebluerich says:

    Randolph off to the prem….no off to a bench in the prem

  • ChrisG says:

    God give me strength, the season only ended a couple of weeks ago, the new season is at least 10 weeks away, the transfer window isn’t even open, and yet all the pessimists are out all ready whinging about the squad, can’t some people at least wait until GR has made a few signings & we’re well into pre season before moaning about how bad things will be next season, no one but GR & his backroom staff know what’s going to happen so stop moaning.

  • Trevor Honnor says:

    Digressing a little but can someone tell me why Davis couldn’t get in the starting 11 during the last few months?
    He was getting rave reviews all season and then stopped getting picked???

    • almajir says:

      Simply because we were better with Tesche and Gleeson in the middle. Davis is good at breaking up play but he’s not great on the ball; Tesche could break up play and pass it – he made things happen.

      • BhamCityJulian says:

        Tesche was an example of Gary ‘replacing’ one position with a better player. Morrison was another example, as was Kiernan for Robinson and Fabbrini for Shinnie. Goalie (as we can tell), Caddis and Grounds are in his sights too I expect and he’s not going to risk finding a ready-made challenger for Cotterill and Donaldson either. Whether he can do or want to do all this in one transfer window remains to be seen.

  • andy says:

    Lets be honest, Birmingham are paying League One wages to players at the moment and the likes of Randolph and Arthur leaving and I anticipate the latter will leave, is of no surprise. I would however be surprised if the likes of Tesche or Fabbrini came back for the wages Blues pay! Rowett has a tough job trying to get quality in permanently.

    • BhamCityJulian says:

      We weren’t playing League One money for the loans of Tesche, Fabbrini and Dyer and I doubt if Morrison on below Championship money either.

      If it the £13m making the difference I don’t know but the players we will be bringing in will be on a new, higher wage scale as ‘improving’, not ‘consolidating’ is the word being used by Gary

  • Hillfield Blues says:

    It’s far to early in the day for us to be panicking about next season just because Randolph is off and Koby isn’t signing yet. Where our finances are in regard to bringing new signings in is anyone’s guess so let’s just sit tight and see where we are in a few months.

  • Jazzzy786 says:

    While there is a long time to go seeing our starting 11 disappear is a bit unnerving. Like you I think Randolph was just okay. Lets hope Koby signs because I think he’ll be a good player. Out of the young keepers Weaver looks the best prospect. Hopefully we can sign Tesche and get Fabbrini on loan. If Gray goes I’d really like the likes of Brown, Adams and VSO break into the first team

  • Teerev says:

    Fifth next season! Money does not always count. And all the best to Brucie tomorrow. His signing as a player for us,was for me,the turning point in our fortunes! While it took him to come back as manager to lead us to the promised land,we have these things to look forward to in the future! More exiting trying to get out of the championship than praying for 4th from bottom in the prem!!

  • River says:

    I’ve heard teche has wrote a letter to forest asking them to let him leave for Birmingham for a free transfer

  • cwbcfc says:

    Dream on Randolph We took you from the dizzy heights of Motherwell and made you an average championship goalie.

  • oldburyblue says:

    Why the panic? We have better players and a better manager than this time last year. Our current squad is made up mostly of free transfers, the majority of which have been successful. I trust GR to pick up the right players and then use them properly to improve us further. He hasn’t let us down so far so why not trust him to do the right thing going forward?

  • Raymondo says:

    I always would have preferred Doyle to Jack Butland or Randolph. Can’t see what he ever did wrong in particular. In the last match of a year ago Randolph’s error nearly got us relegated. He can go as far I’m concerned .Bring on the youngster!

  • Mitchell says:

    Watched Southend v. Wycombe final. Young goalkeeper for Southend..Daniel Bentley. GR no doubt will have seen what I did. Anyone out there share my view?

  • Dave Mann says:

    Mitchell, yes I watched the game and young Bentley looks a very good prospect and let’s hope rowett was watching also .. Young fotheringham playing for Swindon today , if they loose to Preston then he could be another one to look at but I’ve got a feeling we might go for a more experienced keeper .. Who? I don’t know! Kro

  • Dan H says:

    Blues should go after Ben Hamer, he’s Leicester’s 3rdd choice and has played well when called upon. He’s 6ft 4, 27 and has plenty of first team games at Charlton and on Loan at Brentford previously. He can’t be on massive wages and is the right fit to step up to first team action

  • Roy Smith says:

    So much negativity from some people. Do they really think we are in a worse position now than we were at the same point last year?
    Please Dave Mann use a dictionary.

  • RichardM says:

    Like others on here, I think losing Randolph is an inconvenience but nothing more, he was a decent goalie but nothing spectacular, good shot stopper but would cost you at least five goals a season in gaffes. Looks like money is more important than regular first team football so he should enjoy the rest of his playing days sitting on the West Ham bench, his old colleague Tom Adeyemi can probably best advise.

    Personally, I’d like to see a move for Boaz Myhill at West Brom, who I think is out of contract. Whether we can afford his wages or not I’m not sure, but he is definately a keeper who needs first team football, and might jump at the opportunity to rejoin Blues. He is also a much better keeper than Randolph IMO.

    • oldburyblue says:

      I liked Myhill when he was with us and he has looked decent for The Albion whenever I have seen him on the telly. My Albion mates can’t stand him though. Funny how opinions differ.

  • rhees says:

    We can speculate all we want but in Garry I trust and I feel at start of season we will have team to be excited and confident about

  • oldburyblue says:

    The position of goalkeeper in a Team is vital but to be honest there is not a lot to choose between most of them. They can all be brilliant on their day but even the best can drop clangers costing their Teams points. Randolph was a prime example of this….saved us numerous points with his saves but also cost us many too. We have been blessed with our goalkeepers over the years but there are more good ‘keepers than can play regularly so there should be plenty to choose from.

  • Agent McLeish says:

    I’d like to see Butland back on a seasons loan if poss.


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