Barker has left the club

[Tombo]

​Barker type fee is a phrase I haven't heard in a while. Lovely.

​I still use it all the time, it's a unit of measurement. 1 Barker = roughly £1m

"I hear Jeff Hendrick could be going for 5 Barkers"

"For just seven and a half MicroBarkers, Johnny Russell was a bargain"

"Martin is such an exceptional player, and not a single Barker exchanged in lieu of a transfer fee"

[Alph]

You know from the very begining the first specialist said that it would be very difficult if not impossible for Barker to play at this intensity as often as the games are again.

The only way he would play again would be through injections. The demand on his body is too much at this level. All the injections and painkillers etc don't solve the problems in later life after football. 

Barker was simply told it would be very hard to come back. He wasnt really told just how hard it would be. They didn't tell him how impossible it would be because he needed to have something to focus on. He needed lifting and not kicking while he's down.  

Barker doesn't just play for money. He's a proper lad. He loves the game. He loves the being amongst the lads. He loves football. You tell him those days are over and it could lead to some serious lows for him

Derby had a responsibility to make him as fit and healthy as possible. Forget football. It's about looking out for the guy. But he had to be willing to do the work himself so he needed to believe he could play for Derby

Nigel Clough told him to go and get fit. He said that if he is passed match fit and the medical and fitness team gave him the nod thar he'd let him play and show what he's got. He didn't promise him any more. Just that he's pull on the shirt one more time. 

To get back as far as he has shows immense determination. It shows that Derby have him everything he needed

I'm not sure but didn't they even give him a contract extension? So they did that knowing he almost certainly wasn't going to play again. So he has had everything. 

It was Clough's promise and not McClaren's.  He's now obviously in a position where he's ready to make a go of it. But this isn't Nigel's Derby. Was Sam Rush even here when it happened? 

He may not have got to pull the shirt on. But he's got to a point where he's ready to pull A shirt on. With Derby's improvement on the pitch maybe McClaren just feels we've left Barker behind.

He was playing with Anderson, Leacock, Moxey, O'Brien. I mean look at Buxton. How many defenders have been brought in to replace him and he just keeps stepping up. He's stepped up massively from the Buxton that partnered Barker. 

I hope he gets a Championship club. I hope he produces another amazing comeback. He clearly has the determination. But Derby have done alright by him. If I'm right about his contract extension then he's had his "just another year". I can't remember.

[RamNut]

​Recognition for what exactly? He was a decent player for a couple of years for which he was paid decent wages I imagine.

I think paying him for an additional 3 years when there was no onus to do so is more than enough thanks.

Well we plaster his picture all over the west Stand so presumably we feel he represents something good and something we are proud of.

he was captain. He was almost crippled doing a job for us. He bust a gut to get fit again, and by all accounts was a great pro.

arthur cox would always publicly a thank a player for their contribution. I think he should have received some recognition from the club for his dedication to derby county. However the Merit Award went to some bint who chases sponsorship.

says everything

[Kernow]

I think the club played fair by him.

If he's disappointed not to have a chance with us then at least the club have helped enabled him to try his luck somewhere.

All the best to him.

​Agreed. If we didn't give him a new contract he couldn't have signed for a new club due to his injury and would thus fail a medical. He would only have been able to realistically sign for a new club in January, if not this summer, and that would be on the back of physiotherapy, treatment and fitness off his own back, so the level or speed of recovery is likely to be slower than it was near.

We've made it possible for his career to continue at a reasonable level, as I expect even League One sides would have been skeptical about taking a near 33-year-old defender who had been club-less and injured for three years.

We don't owe him anything, I wish him all the luck at his next club.

[G STAR RAM]

Well we plaster his picture all over the west Stand so presumably we feel he represents something good and something we are proud of.

he was captain. He was almost crippled doing a job for us. He bust a gut to get fit again, and by all accounts was a great pro.

arthur cox would always publicly a thank a player for their contribution. I think he should have received some recognition from the club for his dedication to derby county. However the Merit Award went to some bint who chases sponsorship.

says everything

​Yes, he was club captain.

They let him present the player of the year award on the pitch.

They probably paid him somewhere between £500k and £1m whilst also providing him with access to facilities and staff to get him back to a stage nobody ever thought he would reach.

'Some bint' who chases sponsorship says everything..

[Guest]

Good reduced the wage bill

[Alph]

​I don't think he sees it like that for the last year

​Goes down as a being a bit ungrateful if true

I think giving Barker something ambitious to aim for gave him huge determination. 

I think now he's reached what was dangled in front of him that he quite rightly expects what was promised. So he's got every right to be frustrated. 

From the other perspective though. Derby told him what he needed to hear. If they told him the truth...

So they fed him everything he needed. Yes they dangled a carrot. But they didn't lead him off a cliff with it. They lead him away from the edge if anything. The promise was made by the last manager. The medical department has a duty to keep him fit and healthy mentally and physically. So they needed that carrot dangling. Even when McClaren came in there was still a long way to go to make him fit enough to even run!! 

Was probably a bit dirty by Derby. But the alternative was to tell him he'll almost 100% never play again at this level. 

So I guess Barker sees it the only way he can. The way I would. Derby see it as the lead him on to save his career and football doesn't stand still for 3 years. 

[RamNut]

​Yes, he was club captain.

They let him present the player of the year award on the pitch.

They probably paid him somewhere between £500k and £1m whilst also providing him with access to facilities and staff to get him back to a stage nobody ever thought he would reach.

'Some bint' who chases sponsorship says everything..

This post was sponsored by Dulcolax.

[Guest]

I went through 4 years of pain under the previous manager whenever I came to the ipro, and had to pay for the privilege to.  

Wish him well, but the right call.

[angieram]

However the Merit Award went to some bint who chases sponsorship.

says everything

What century are we in? 

That sponsorship has probably been helping to pay his wages.

I hope Shaun makes a good comeback at another club. He is an inspiration to injured players everywhere.  

[RamNut]

What century are we in? 

That sponsorship has probably been helping to pay his wages.

I hope Shaun makes a good comeback at another club. He is an inspiration to injured players everywhere.  

This Is a football club.

we show litlle public gratitude or recognition to our club captain but we hand out gongs for chasing sponsors?

 

[RamNut]

You never know maybe I'll get a proper send off playing at the Ipro next season!  
Thanks everyone and good luck. 
Barks. X

[BOB BIGGS]

I wish him all the best. He must be a great battler to have got as far as he has. 

Unlike some, I often enjoyed watching him and his mates play......

[rustylee]

He will end up at Rotherham 

[ladyram]

Very sad to see Barks go but I have to say I agree with Ramnut (but I wouldn't have used the 'some bint' bit).

. It would have been lovely to see Shaun recognized for the courage he's shown, how he dealt with what for him and his family was a life changing injury and how he stayed positive with an end goal in sight.

Not to do this lady a dis-service but getting sponsors is hardly an achievement of that magnitude.

I wish Shaun and his family all the best, I hope he can carry on playing. Xx

[jimbobram]

Giving him a little bit of recognition and thanks wouldn't have gone amiss.

​Its not been officially done yet has it ? im sure he will, along with Ward who has also put a great shift in, always gave his all 

[jimbobram]

​Barker type fee is a phrase I haven't heard in a while. Lovely.

​we are onto Thorne type fees now

[rammieib]

I'm glad we have a more ruthless manager now who is obviously making some tough decisions. Sentiment has been diverted but we move on. Ward and Barker leaving probably frees up 8-10k a week. I expect many more to come.

i feel proud we supported Shaun but a business hat on we have probably spent a million pound on a player who was never going to play regularly first team football for derby again. Mac coming in was a definite signal of that for me. I think Mac respected the situation, never once said or criticised the club or the position for giving him this contract and I son.t blame him one bit for not playing in.

i loved Barker, four years ago, but we all move on. I'm looking forward to the work Steve will do on the squad over the next three months so come early August we can be up there fighting again.

[Mostyn6]

I'm ashamed at how badly the club has treated Seth Johnson after he ruined his legs at Wembley getting us promoted.

I think we should give him a 3 year contract just to bring him level with Barker.

[PistoldPete2]

​

Shaun BarkerVerified account ‏@barks5

I've been ready to step up to 1st team football for a few weeks now and with a pre season under my belt The Championship is my target.

 

He's being polite here, he said a "couple of months" when we asked him on Monday!

I think we all saw it coming, and I doubt there is anyone here that doesn't wish him all the best

Unless Sam rush and Steve mcclaren are on this forum. Championship is his target. As it is for sheffield u. Any coincidence.