‘THIS IS TOUGH TIME TO BE FREE’
FREE AGENT Robbie Tinkler has opened up on the challenges facing out of contract players this summer.
The north-east based former England C international faces an uncertain future with talks to secure a new deal at Aldershot Town currently stalling.
The 24-year-old fears that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic could put many other out-of-contract footballers in the same boat with clubs battling financial pressures placed upon them.
Tinkler was commenting on claims by one agent this week that as many as 1,400 free agents from the Premier League down to Non-League are currently looking for new clubs as the 2020/21 season draws ever closer.
The former Gateshead and Middlesbrough defender is now left in limbo after his one-year deal at the Shots ended in June.
A number of Football League, National League and Scottish clubs have expressed an interest in acquiring his services – but Tinkler is yet to receive any firm offers and fully accepts that the power. now lies in the hands of the clubs.
Pressure
“It’s a very different market to be in as a player without a club,” Tinkler told The
NLP.
“There are a lot of pressures on clubs, but I don’t think the power is with the players because of the situation we are all in at the moment.
“There are a lot of players looking for clubs and there is pressure on us all to find a club.
“Players will know that they will more than likely have to accept a cut financially.
“I became a Dad over the last year, so it’s not just me that I have to consider. I have a young family, I have to provide for them, so the pressure is there and it’s a pressure that a lot of players are feeling right now.”
Tinkler’s move to Aldershot last July was the first time that he had made a permanent move outside of his native north-east during his career.
After learning his trade in Middlesbrough’s prolific academy, the full-back spent the 2018/19 season at Gateshead as they made a mockery of pre-season predictions of a relegation battle to move into contention for a National League play-off place.
The Heed came up short in their efforts to secure a top-seven place as off-field issues eventually overshadowed their spirited displays on it.
Tinkler’s form led to an England C call-up and he received a number of offers when his Heed contract came to an end last summer.
Aldershot won the race for his signature and he was a regular feature in Danny Searle’s side as they preserved their status in the National League.
Faith
As it stands, the Shots could yet offer Tinkler a chance to extend his time down south in Hampshire – but the defender believes that the current situation means that he has to be “open-minded” as he assesses his next move.
“It was a good experience to up and move and take the family with me,” Tinkler added. “It is difficult for anyone to do that, but as a whole I really enjoyed it.
“We were tipped for relegation, but to achieve what we achieved, we did really well.
“If you’d have asked if where we finished would be success at the start of the season, I’d say yes it was.
“With the age I am at, I would like to take a step up into the Football League. I honestly believe I can step up; I just need a manager that can put their faith in me.
“That is not say if something in Scotland, the National League, or the North division came in, I wouldn’t consider it. I’m open-minded, I have to be, it’s not a year for the player with everything going on.”