What should Arsenal do with Mesut Ozil?

[MenInG]

World Cup-winning midfielder Mesut Ozil has been cut from Arsenal's squad for the rest of the season, and said on Wednesday "loyalty is hard to come by nowadays".

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta took responsibility, saying he had "failed" with Germany playmaker Ozil, and that his exclusion was purely "a football decision".

However, some Arsenal fans have pointed to his comments in December 2019 about the mistreatment of Uighur Muslims in China and suggested a link to his current exile.

In his social media statement on Wednesday, 32-year-old Ozil wrote: "I will continue to train as best as I can and wherever possible use my voice against inhumanity and for justice."

So what is behind the China suggestions?

What is the background?
In 2018, a BBC investigation revealed evidence that about a million people - mostly from China's Muslim Uighur community - were thought to have been detained without trial in high-security prison camps.

Last December, Ozil, who is Muslim, released a social media post calling Uighurs "warriors who resist persecution" and criticising both China and the silence of Muslims in response.

Arsenal distanced themselves from midfielder Ozil's comments saying the club is "always apolitical as an organisation".

China has consistently denied mistreating Uighur Muslims in the country and says they are being educated in "vocational training centres" to combat violent religious extremism.

After his post, Ozil was taken out of China's version of the Pro Evolution Soccer 2020 video game, and the club's next game against Manchester City was removed from state broadcaster CCTV's schedule.

China's foreign ministry spokesman said Ozil had been "deceived by fake news" before making his comments.

Ozil had fallen out of favour under previous manager Unai Emery before returning to the side under interim boss Freddie Ljungberg at the start of December 2019.

After Arteta's appointment as permanent manager later that month - the same in which Ozil made his original comments - the German started all 10 of the club's Premier League games before the coronavirus pandemic forced a three-month suspension in March, but he has not been seen in an Arsenal shirt subsequently.

Since joining from Real Madrid seven years ago, Ozil has scored 44 goals in 254 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.

He said on Wednesday: "I'm really deeply disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the Premier League season for the time being.

"Upon signing my new contract in 2018, I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal, and it saddens me that this has not been reciprocated.

"I've always tried to remain positive from week to week that there's maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That's why I kept silent so far."

'Ozil should look at the mirror himself'
European football expert Guillem Balague:

"I find the suggestion that Ozil has been moved aside for his political stance an intentional distraction and very convenient. He has played and has been called up since he made his comments on China and the Uighur Muslims. You have to look at the bigger picture [in footballing terms].

"Why have the last two managers struggled to find a way to fit him in? He is talented, no doubt, but talent is not enough in the elite.

"You have to be committed, interested, follow instructions on the pitch, work hard in training and in the games, with and without the ball, have faith in the group and in the leader… all that is necessary.

"It is very easy to influence Arsenal fans by suggesting there is a hidden agenda here, but why would two managers go against doing the best for their own teams by leaving Ozil out?

"Would it be by any chance that they needed to bring some standards which Ozil did not match? I have the impression Ozil should look at the mirror himself and be honest with what he sees.

"Ozil is not able to impact games on a regular basis and now the manager feels that it is best for the group to leave him out of the Premier League and Europa League squad."

So why the China theory?
Following his exile, some Arsenal fans suggested Ozil has been cast aside because of his support for the Uighur Muslims.

The phrase 'Muslims in China' was trending on social media immediately after Wednesday's statement, and some have expressed concerns at Arsenal's failure to back their player.

When contacted by BBC Sport, Arsenal reiterated Arteta's response, insisting it was "a football decision and that alone".

Earlier this month, Ozil raised a political point on social media once more, calling for a "resolution" in the ongoing violent conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding the Nagorno Karabakh region.

His contract expires at the end of the season and he will end his time at the Emirates eligible only for the under-23 side this season, while picking up a reported £350,000 a week in wages.

Ozil's Germany career also ended in controversy, quitting international football in 2018 citing the "racism and disrespect" he has faced in Germany over his Turkish roots.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said he was "gutted" Ozil will not get the chance to play and called the situation "sad", while ex-Gunners' midfielder Jack Wilshere added: "He is one of the best players I have played with and it must be so frustrating for him. What a great player.

"It is a tough time for him but I am sure, if it is not at Arsenal, he still has a lot to give as well."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54623161

 

[Zaz]

So ozil isnt now even good enough to get into arsenals 25 man squad?

Give me a break Theres something more at play here than the rubbish we are being fed

Anyways its arsenals loss Ozils being paid millions to sit at home

 

[Firebat]

Mesut Özil's agent says Mikel Arteta has 'failed to be honest' about player

Mesut Özil’s agent has ramped up the playmaker’s dispute with Arsenal by claiming Mikel Arteta has not been truthful about the reasons for exiling him from the squad.

It seems certain Özil has played his last game for Arsenal after he was omitted from their Premier League and Europa League squads this month. On Wednesday Arteta said he had “failed” Özil, who has not featured since March, by not getting the best out of him but Özil’s camp are adamant that his absence is attributable to factors beyond performances in training or games.

“Arsenal fans deserve an honest explanation, not [Arteta] saying: ‘I failed Özil,’” said Erkut Sogut, Özil’s representative, in an interview with ESPN. “You didn’t fail Özil: you failed to be fair, honest and transparent and treat someone with respect who has a contract and was loyal all the time.

“Every single person outside knows he hasn’t treated him fairly. He didn’t give him a chance to show himself this season. If he is still under contract, the player should have the option to fight for his place. Mesut hasn’t been given that.”

Sogut said a number of Özil’s colleagues felt similarly baffled at his exclusion, which comes at a time when Arsenal lack a creative outlet. “I spoke with at least five teammates who say he is training great,” he continued. “They say Mesut is one of their best players, and they cannot understand why he is left out. So it can’t be the training: if it is not the pitch, what are the footballing reasons? If you talk, you should tell the truth that the Arsenal fans deserve, otherwise don’t talk at all.”

In a further broadside at Arteta, who first joined Arsenal as a player from Everton in 2011, Sogut said Özil was “not a player who is yesterday a Toffee and today a Gunner”. Özil himself had made a public statement earlier in the week, professing his commitment to Arsenal and lamenting “loyalty is hard to come by these days”. His Twitter account was notably active on Thursday night while Arsenal played at Rapid Vienna, with score predictions, in-game commentary and a man-of-the-match poll served up for his followers in what looked a calculated show of allegiance.

While it would be hard to argue that Özil’s performances on the pitch have made his claim to a first-team place irresistible, he has undoubtedly been at loggerheads with the club on other issues, including his refusal to take a pay cut in April and in publicly voicing his support for Uighur Muslims in China last December.

“He expected to get more support from the club,” Sogut said of the latter situation, which saw Arsenal stress the club had a principle of “not involving itself in politics” in a hurriedly-released statement. “It is not talking about politics, it is about human rights, putting people in detention centres. Imagine a football player comes out and says: ‘This is inhumane.’ Is that politics or empathy?”

Sogut claimed Özil could have left for another club and received a £30m signing-on fee rather than signing a new £350,000-a-week contract at Arsenal in 2018. He said he expected Özil to elaborate on what has become a painful stand-off for all parties in the future.

“Mesut cannot speak now because of confidentiality, but one day he will, and we’ll see what people think,” he said.

Arsenal have been approached for comment.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...l-arteta-has-failed-to-be-honest-about-player

 

[MenInG]

Footballer Mesut Ozil says healthy meals for children should be a given - not a privilege, after he led the distribution of 1,400 meals to schools across north London every day this week.

The Arsenal midfielder teamed up with renowned German chef Stefan Pappert at the start of the pandemic to provide healthy meals to families living in poverty, homeless shelters and charities that support refugees.

Ozil is among a number of footballers, including Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, leading the charge on the issue of free meals for children during school holidays.

Chef Stefan Pappert, Project Manager Parsa Sadigh and Mesut Ozil with the team at Unitas
Image:
Chef Stefan Pappert, project manager Parsa Sadigh and Mesut Ozil with the team at Unitas
Last week, the government rejected a Labour bill to extend free school meals, prompting Ozil to scale up his project and provide 1,400 extra meals every day.

"During the half-term, lots of kids are facing a tough situation with regards to food," he said in an exclusive interview. "No child should go hungry. That's the most important thing and wherever I can help I will."

Ozil's team, which includes Pappert and project manager Parsa Sadigh, have distributed thousands of meals to families across Brent, Burnt Oak and Edgware - in some of north London's most deprived communities.

"There's a real emphasis on making sure the food is healthy, nutritious and also filling. So we're using the finest organic pasta which my friend Alberto Franceschi sent from Italy," Ozil said. "Healthy meals for children should be a given, and not a privilege."

'Fundamental mistake' to think exams algorithm would be 'acceptable', Ofqual chair tells MPs
Pappert, who has previously cooked for the Queen, said everyone should be treated like royalty.

"Everyone is special, and for us it was important to look after the children with good food that is healthy too. So we have fresh vegetables and organic pasta."

Over the half term, the team worked through the night with help from Barnet Sunday League footballers who packed the meals into individual lunchboxes. By 7am, a line of black cabs queued up outside the kitchen in Knightsbridge, ready to make deliveries to 12 schools.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there is £63m available specifically to help deal with holiday hunger. According to mum-of-nine Zoe Collingbourne, that is not enough.

"The holidays are awful," she said. "Prices are going up, and with children being at home a lot of the time, it makes it worse because they eat more. They get bored, they eat more. So I think the government is wrong."

Zoe picks up meals provided by Ozil at Orion Primary School which has the biggest request for help - 400 of its students rely on free school meals.

Headteacher Chris Flathers said the project took a little encouragement because of bad weather.

"On Tuesday it was pouring with rain so we went out in the minibus and handed out the meals to families on the estate," he said.

Meals supplied by Ozil's team have helped Unitas Youth Zone in Burnt Oak, Edgware, throughout the pandemic.

"Burnt Oak and nearby Colindale have the two highest rates of child poverty in Barnet," explained Unitas chief executive Tony Lewis.

"Since lockdown, Unitas has supported over 100 families with [Mesut Ozil's] team donating 50 meals a week to Unitas, as well as 50 each to two other local charities. On top of that, Mesut's team has donated 200 meals a day to the Youth Zone for its October half-term holiday club provision."

Earlier this month, Ozil rescued the job of Jerry Quy, who works as Arsenal's mascot Gunnersaurus, after the club moved to make the role redundant.

The Germany playmaker has also previously provided meals to 100,000 people in refugee camps across Turkey and Syria, and paid for children to have life-saving surgeries in South America.

He told Sky News his most recent humanitarian endeavour has been the result of a collective effort.

"I'm proud to be involved in this project and want to thank everyone helping out, especially Stefan Pappert, our excellent chef from Germany, Parsa Sadigh for his organisation and my good friend Alberto Franceschi."

https://news.sky.com/story/no-child...nds-out-free-meals-to-schoolchildren-12118740

 

[Firebat]

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he gave former Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil "as many opportunities" as he could before leaving the 32-year-old out of his Premier League and Europa League squads. (Sky Sports)

 

[Firebat]

Arsenal's out-of-favour Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil, 32, believes he will be able to get another top club - but is unlikely to leave before next summer. (Mirror)

 

[Firebat]

It's getting increasingly harder for Arteta to justify omitting from the entire PL squad the player who tops all your creative charts.

Especially when you as a team are at the bottom of the league in those charts.

Especially when you as a team have scored 2 goals in the last 7 PL games, one of them a penalty.

 

[MenInG]

Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil, 32, is in talks with DC United about a move to the Major League Soccer side. (Football London)

 

[Hasan123]

Ozil fan boys who think he will make a difference, if he is so good why do DC United and Fernabche want him? Why haven’t a top team cone in for him? He has massively declined as a player. He has been treated harshly, but the best thing for him to do is move on and play football.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

He won’t leave in this window imo - he’ll collect his 350k+ a week until his contract ends and then move. He’s also due another ‘loyalty bonus’ soon lol. He received £8m in September and there’s one more to come.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

ARSENAL fear they will be stuck with Mesut Ozil until the very last day of his contract despite him being linked with a January move.

The out-of-favour midfielder, 32, still has 25 weeks of his Gunners contract to run, which means he is due to collect £8.75MILLION between now and the end of June.

And the way his agreement is structured means he will also be due a hefty ‘loyalty bonus’ if he is still at the club when his huge £350,000-a-week deal expires.

All of which has convinced the Arsenal hierarchy that Ozil will hang around until he has collected every penny due to him.

Reports in Turkey claim Fenerbahce have agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the German worth £90,000 a week.

But the Super Lig club are £275m in debt and have already asked fans to donate towards their wage bill.

The £42.5m signing has also been linked with a move to join DC United in time for the new MLS season in March.

But Ozil’s agent Dr Erkut Sogut said: “His priority is to stay at Arsenal but things can change very fast in football and he might go, so we are checking all the options for this month and for the summer.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/13671055/mesut-ozil-transfer-contract-bonus-arsenal/

 

[silentkiller187]

Ozil fan boys who think he will make a difference, if he is so good why do DC United and Fernabche want him? Why haven’t a top team cone in for him? He has massively declined as a player. He has been treated harshly, but the best thing for him to do is move on and play football.

He is not a good investment for the big teams, he is getting to the end of his career and his wages are way too high, therefore he prices himself out of most teams, he is not good enough for a PSG or real who can afford him because there are younger alternatives, however anyone who believes he cannot make a difference to this arsenal team and was sidelined for footballing reasons especially while he is banking 300k a week does not know football or politics. Its not a surprise arsenal started playing better when they stuck Emile Smith Rowe in the "number 10" position, is he better than Ozil? LOL

 

[Hasan123]

He is not a good investment for the big teams, he is getting to the end of his career and his wages are way too high, therefore he prices himself out of most teams, he is not good enough for a PSG or real who can afford him because there are younger alternatives, however anyone who believes he cannot make a difference to this arsenal team and was sidelined for footballing reasons especially while he is banking 300k a week does not know football or politics. Its not a surprise arsenal started playing better when they stuck Emile Smith Rowe in the "number 10" position, is he better than Ozil? LOL

He could do better than some of the players who have played 10 this season but does his inclusion make us champions league contenders? No it doesn't. He was clearly told he would not be included in the Premier League squad and he chose to stay.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Surprised there isn’t interest in him from Italy - look at what players like Pirlo, Totti, De Rossi, Di Natale etc have managed to do over there well in their late 30s. Pace doesn’t seem to be as important in Serie A as it is in other top leagues.

 

[silentkiller187]

He could do better than some of the players who have played 10 this season but does his inclusion make us champions league contenders? No it doesn't. He was clearly told he would not be included in the Premier League squad and he chose to stay.

Arsenal are not Champions league contenders with or without Ozil, and won't be for the next few seasons. Teams like Everton, Leicester and Tottenham under Mourinho are all ahead of Arsenal at the moment and even then they are not considered guarantees for the 4th spot. Which makes the decision to leave a player with Ozils creative abilities out of the squad even more ridiculous. No manager in their right mind would leave a player of Ozils caliber out of the squad for solely football reasons, looking at Arsenals squad its even more baffling to understand why.

Can you blame him for staying, your club treats him like crap i would sit and see out my whole contract on the 300k.+

 

[Hasan123]

Arsenal are not Champions league contenders with or without Ozil, and won't be for the next few seasons. Teams like Everton, Leicester and Tottenham under Mourinho are all ahead of Arsenal at the moment and even then they are not considered guarantees for the 4th spot. Which makes the decision to leave a player with Ozils creative abilities out of the squad even more ridiculous. No manager in their right mind would leave a player of Ozils caliber out of the squad for solely football reasons, looking at Arsenals squad its even more baffling to understand why.

Can you blame him for staying, your club treats him like crap i would sit and see out my whole contract on the 300k.+

Ozil is not a long term solution to Arsenal creative problems. You can say Arsenal are not guaranteed to get in the top 4, but that is the aim for the season. Ozil fan boys act like he makes Arsenal a top 4 team. I have seen him perform pathetically in certain away games. He wouldn’t make a significant difference imo.

Arsenal have treated him badly, but some of the stuff I have heard (which I won’t share because you won’t believe) does not make Ozil look good. All I will say he is extremely lucky Arteta and the club have not hung him out to dry whilst he takes pot shots at Arsenal.

 

[silentkiller187]

Ozil is not a long term solution to Arsenal creative problems. You can say Arsenal are not guaranteed to get in the top 4, but that is the aim for the season. Ozil fan boys act like he makes Arsenal a top 4 team. I have seen him perform pathetically in certain away games. He wouldn’t make a significant difference imo.

Arsenal have treated him badly, but some of the stuff I have heard (which I won’t share because you won’t believe) does not make Ozil look good. All I will say he is extremely lucky Arteta and the club have not hung him out to dry whilst he takes pot shots at Arsenal.

Its not only "Ozil fan boyss" its pretty much everyone I've spoken to who is not die hard arsenal will tell you this is one of the stupidest decisions ever made by a premier league manager.

Look at the backlash, from what i have heard more than half the team have ridiculed Artetas decision making, infighting, pot shots on twitter (saliba etc).

I have seen Ozil play pathetically before as well and he would not get Arsenal into the champions league because one player cant make such an impact on a poor squad bar Bruno Fernandes, and even he was helped with penalties. But the way Arsenal started the season, breaking records for mediocrity, only just breaking themselves free from a relegation dogfight, most of your starting xi has had a pathetic season and that's putting it lightly, Therefore it is baffling and arteta deserves the sack if he left Ozil out for solely football reasons, becuase regardless of how rubbish someone plays if you pay him 300k+ you fit him in, unless there is another agenda which we don't need to go into.

 

[Hasan123]

Its not only "Ozil fan boyss" its pretty much everyone I've spoken to who is not die hard arsenal will tell you this is one of the stupidest decisions ever made by a premier league manager.

Look at the backlash, from what i have heard more than half the team have ridiculed Artetas decision making, infighting, pot shots on twitter (saliba etc).

I have seen Ozil play pathetically before as well and he would not get Arsenal into the champions league because one player cant make such an impact on a poor squad bar Bruno Fernandes, and even he was helped with penalties. But the way Arsenal started the season, breaking records for mediocrity, only just breaking themselves free from a relegation dogfight, most of your starting xi has had a pathetic season and that's putting it lightly, Therefore it is baffling and arteta deserves the sack if he left Ozil out for solely football reasons, becuase regardless of how rubbish someone plays if you pay him 300k+ you fit him in, unless there is another agenda which we don't need to go into.

Look at Ozil numbers, his stats in terms of chance creation have gone down. Whilst he is here he should have been used but he is not a difference maker his fans think he is. Had Arsenal signed a creative midfielder, no one would be talking about or care about Ozil.

Arteta doesn’t deserve the sack for his treatment of Ozil. As I said with what I have heard about the situation, Ozil is no saint and he should be thankful that Arteta and Arsehave not thrown him under the bus.

He is going to Fernabache, that should tell you about his motivation when it comes to Arsenal and about his level as a footballer now.

 

[MenInG]

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says a decision on the future of Mesut Ozil "must be right for all parties".

Ozil is into the last six months of his contract and Arteta says the German is "free to negotiate with other clubs".

"We will discuss it internally, what the best situation is for him in the near future, with the player and the agent and try to find the best solution for everybody," said Arteta.

"We will decide what is happening in the next few days."

The 32-year-old has been linked with a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce, but Arteta says "something will only be sorted if it's good for both Mesut and the club".

"If that's the case we will move forward, if not, the player will continue here," added the Arsenal boss.

"We know that we have a really important player that is one of the key players in the past seasons for this football club."

Since joining from Real Madrid seven years ago, Ozil has scored 44 goals in 254 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.

Ozil, who has been left out of the club's 25-man Premier League and Europa League squads, joined Arsenal for a then club record £42.4m in 2013. He has not played for the club since 7 March.

"We have to make a decision. I had to make a decision [omitting him from Premier League squad]. I made it. I knew the consequences of it. And now we are having to make another in January, and we will put in the balance of the best thing for the club, the best thing for the team, the intention of the player and try to find the right solution."

The Arsenal manager confirmed Ozil was training with the first team, but had been given time off "for something personal" recently.

 

[MenInG]

Fenerbahce boss Erol Bulut says the situation over the club's potential signing of Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil, 32, will become clearer "in the coming days"

 

[Firebat]

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil is in talks to join Turkish club Fenerbahce on loan for the rest of the season. However, the Gunners have said they do not want to pay any part of his £350,000-a-week salary if the move happens. (Guardian)

 

[Firebat]

Looks like a resolution this month is on the cards. Beneficial to all parties at this point, this has been hanging over us and dragging on long enough.

We won't know the true details of what went on behind the scenes for a long time, if ever, but it's time to put this behind us and move on.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Looks like a resolution this month is on the cards. Beneficial to all parties at this point, this has been hanging over us and dragging on long enough.

We won't know the true details of what went on behind the scenes for a long time, if ever, but it's time to put this behind us and move on.

From an ethical perspective, he should bleed the club dry. They've prioritised commercial agreements in the far-east, have been swinging the axe to save costs and signing has-beens. Kroenke needs to be taught a lesson

 

[MenInG]

'EVERYTHING IN PLACE FOR OZIL TO JOIN FENERBAHCE'

"It does look like there is light at the end of the tunnel as far as Mesut Ozil's move away from Arsenal is concerned.

"It looks like a deal is doable. Ozil said yesterday in his Twitter Q&A that if he were to move to Turkey, then Fenerbahce would be the only club he would go to.

"So we know Ozil likes Fenerbahce and Fenerbahce like Ozil and their president said it remains a dream to sign Ozil. So everything is in place to get the deal done.

"And you get the impression there is a willingness from all parties to get a deal done, although there is still the issue of who pays his wages for the remaining six months of his Arsenal contract...."

 

[KoyoAli]

Arsenal & Mesut Ozil have an agreement in principle to terminate contract with immediate effect and end his 7.5yr Arsenal career. If all goes to plan Fenerbahce expect him to travel this weekend & complete move to Fenerbache as a free agent

 

[Gabbar Singh]

What a sad way to end his Arsenal career. Hope he does well in Turkey.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://twitter.com/MesutOzil1088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MesutOzil1088</a>'s Arsenal career in numbers:<br><br> 259 matches<br> 44 goals<br> 77 assists<br> 4 FA Cups<br> 2 English Super Cup<br> 7+ years at the club <a href="https://t.co/Mn74roWxiZ">pic.twitter.com/Mn74roWxiZ</a></p>— 433 (@433) <a href="https://twitter.com/433/status/1350485375618265089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Mesut Ozil said goodbye to his Arsenal team-mates and club staff at London Colney on Sunday and is travelling to Turkey ahead of a medical at Fenerbahce.

Ozil is expected to join Fenerbahce as a free agent once an early termination of his Arsenal contract - which had been due to expire in the summer - is finalised.

 

[The Viper]

<a href="https://ibb.co/R7m5YNJ"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/PtnSFMV/08524c8e-f7d8-458d-971a-9ed706de7c2f.jpg" alt="08524c8e-f7d8-458d-971a-9ed706de7c2f" border="0"></a>

 

[MenInG]

Mesut Ozil says he will be a "Gunner for life" after completing his free transfer from Arsenal to Fenerbahce.

The 32-year-old former Germany midfielder has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Turkish side.

He won three FA Cups with Arsenal and scored 44 goals in 254 appearances in all competitions for them, but has not played for the first team since March.

"It is difficult for me to put into words the love I feel for the club and the fans," Ozil said in an open letter.

"How could I possibly describe eight years of gratitude in a single letter?

"I will be a Gunner for life - no doubt about that."

He added: "Arsenal is a club of class and prestige, something that I felt every time I walked on to the pitch.

"Players, staff and management always come and go - but the club's values and fans will remain forever.

"The principles of class, respect and dignity must never be forgotten. It is the responsibility of every single person from the club to make sure they carry out their job in the name of these values."