According to the Daily Mail, bastion of all that is true and just, Tottenham’s perennial injury-victim has been handed an ultimatum by club boss Harry Redknapp. The 30-year-old has been told: play twenty games this season or miss out on a new contract. The England international has spent his entire career at the club, but his contract will expire at the end of the current season. Tottenham appear to be taking a stricter stance on the issue than they have done previously. Harry Redknapp told the Mail:
‘He has to play this year. I can’t go to the chairman and say: “Give Ledley a contract,” if he has only played two games because he isn’t going to do that. This is Ledley’s big year, he’s got to play 20 games or so, really. Ledley needs to put some games in this year to get another contract.’
It goes without saying that Ledley is a fan favourite at White Hart Lane, but could his time at Spurs be drawing to an end?
Just like everyone else, I sincerely hope that King can overcome his injury difficulties and provide a meaningful contribution for his club this season.
There’s no doubt that Tottenham are a more defensively assured team when he plays. But let’s face it: Spurs have gambled on King for a number of season’s now and it’s a gamble that hasn’t paid off.
Some may suggest offering him a Pay-as-you-play type deal, but what’s the point of wasting a squad space on somebody who has provided ample evidence that he’s unable to contribute to this Spurs side? Tottenham proved earlier this summer that they could be ruthless in these kind of circumstances when they released perma-crock Jonathan Woodgate. It may well be that they have to do the same for King come next summer.
On the flipside of this, if King does show signs that he’s on the road to recovery, then he’d be worthy of his place in the squad, so long as a fair contract can be negotiated. It’s a difficult issue, but Tottenham’s stance on the situation is pitch-perfect. They’ve eased the pressure off of them and onto the player himself – if Ledley can’t come up the goods, despite it being through no fault of his own, then it doesn’t make sense for the club to keep him.
I’m sure Tottenham fans would hate to see King at another club but as time rolls on, this seems to a more and more likely possibility.
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What right do you have to say whether king deserves another contract the man is a spurs legend, he plays through pain everytime he steps onto a football pitch for the club he loves! We are a better side with him at the heart of it. U should be ashamed to write such garbage.
Should have a job for life if playing is beyond him get him doing his badges.