Yesterday evening Belgium side OH Leuven claimed to have completed the signing of Sheffield Wednesday youngster George Hirst but most fans accept he’s just signed for Leicester City.
There’s no reason to disbelieve their claim even if there has been no straight confirmation from the club themselves at the time I’m writing this. Confirmation from the Belgian side is enough.
All Owls fans know Hirst has thrown his toys and wanted out for a while.
The 19-year-old England youth international is said to have signed a five-year deal with his new side and that follows his refusal to sign a contract extension with us that ultimately led him to being frozen out of the squad at Hillsborough last season. He is obviously out of contract this summer and will officially become theirs on July 1.
There is slightly more to this move than meets the eye though. It was suggested that Leicester City were willing suitors but had he moved to them, if a fee couldn’t have been agreed it would’ve gone to a tribunal and with his clear talent and potential, chances are the tribunal would’ve been financially suitable to us.
Moving abroad I believe his new club only have to pay a nominal fee now – if they even have to pay a fee for training compensation which I don’t think they do. But that’s only the first blow.
OH Leuven, a Belgian second division side, are managed by former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson. Whilst there isn’t a strict ‘sister club’ or ‘linked’ arrangement to my knowledge in terms of their operation, players have switched between them I believe. They are curiously owned by Leicester’s owners and fall under the King Power brand which is worth thinking about.
It doesn’t take a great leap of imagination, ‘sister club’ arrangement or not, to see what’s happened does it.
So Leicester then
— adam smith (@themachine82) June 22, 2018
I agree only loyalty in football is the fans
— BOOTHY (@800THY) June 22, 2018
Did we put him on the transfer list when he refused to sign last summer?
— Mike Neil (@Peal07) June 22, 2018
Sounds like it. More money for him, less for us. Today’s world of football
— Mike Neil (@Peal07) June 22, 2018
Bye…one less to pay for thats used our club to build a reputation then take a pay cheque..I am not bitter at all..????
— Yorkshire Owl (@yorkshire_owl) June 22, 2018
Hopefully
— simon rowe (@codrowe) June 22, 2018
I think it’s wrong this is allowed to be honest. It’s clearly a way of avoiding compensation. #swfc
— James (@Jamesy_boy) June 22, 2018
It’s inevitable as club owners build networks of clubs to act in concert, I suppose. Owls are not blameless in this, but it’s mainly down to Hirst jr and sr
— alex (@meta_content) June 22, 2018
Balls to him, stuck up his own arse, thinking he’s bigger than club demanding more money!! Know what I hope it all goes tits up for him, could have had a future here, but if he wants to be in Leicester Reserves let him
— Craig G (@CraigGamb) June 22, 2018
Owned by Leicester hierarchy and managed by his dads mate, Nigel Pearson. What an awful end to the Hirst legacy at Hillsborough!
— mark howe (@markhowe84) June 22, 2018
Wonder how long before Chansiri sues Leicester when he ultimately ends up there. Scummy move by all parties. Ruins his dad's name
— No Uniform (@nouniform) June 22, 2018
It’s worth noting those are the ones I can print, you need a stronger constitution for some of the others that I saw.
