There does seem to be a consensus though that Leeds minus Beckford = probably get promoted without him, but those pesky teams, Colchester, Norwich and Charlton, seem to be unsportingly refusing to give up the chase, so there’s a risk that we might end up in the play-offs and that always equals failure for us to get promoted.

Alternatively, the consensus seems to be Leeds plus Beckford = 15-20 more goals from him and an (almost) inevitable promotion to the Championship.

So we run the risk of losing £1.5-2m worth of striking talent, and during the Summer we would need to stump up this amount to potentially find a new Beckford, or better, but what is the cost to the team of failing to get promoted? David Coleman touched on the potential damage this might have on our squad. Can you see Howson, Snodgrass, Becchio not finding suitors from higher division teams – or them having to face yet another season of their progressing careers lumbered in the third tier of English football? Kisnorbo, Kilkenny, Johnson, White and Grella might also be sort after. That’s quite a risk, no? It’d take more than £1.5-2m to tempt adequete replacements to step down to life in League One.

Conversly, and here’s one for TSS and his interest in Hooper, if we keep Beckford and he goes in the Summer on a free, but Scunthorpe get relelgated to League One, might our cost of replacing Beckford with Hooper be a tad cheaper than if we tried to tempt their best resource for maintaining Championship-status away from Glanford Park during this transfer window?

Finally, I agree with the doubters, whatever we get for Beckford, after the cut goes to Wealdstone and Rubery, there’ll be little on offer to Grayson in way of replacement – at least before the Summer. Or rather, there’ll not be enough to replace Beckford like-for-like. I see the compromise offered to our fans being £200,000 for Gradel. Gradel would be a useful addition, true, but would you trade-in a player who’s likely to score at any point in the ninety minutes – ie. potentially putting the game to bed before halftime – for one that might score but only in last 20 minutes as a substitue. Too risky for me.

Jermaine Beckford = 72 goals in a 116 starts with 12 sub appearances. A ratio of 0.56 goals to games which is currently unmatched in the English leagues by anyone playing more than two seasons.

He will be missed…….

Do we think that promotion will be achieved by keeping Beckford ? If we sell can it be achieved with a replacement or from current stock ? For what it’s worth I think it can be achieved but only with a suitable replacement. Norwich and Charlton are too close to not have a very good goalscorer in the pack, anyone fancy 3rd place and another tilt at the play offs? No, me neither.

As for Bates and the money saga,until we know what Larry has asked for you can’t convict Bates of not splashing the cash. No manger so far has complained about not being supported in the transfer market by the chairman and that’s good enough for me. I believe (and no doubt I will get pulled apart on this) that the club are preparing with half an eye on the CCC, funds will be needed if as we all hope we get there this year.