Keith Gillespie joins Glentoran

**HarpoJoyce** · 14/08/2009, 9:40 PM

Keith Gillespie joins Glentoran and gives the Setanta Cup an extra boost.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...sh/8202669.stm
"..Irish Premiership champions Glentoran plan to parade their star signing at the Oval on Tuesday night before the derby clash with Linfield.....

"When asked on Tuesday about the player's rumoured move to the Irish League side, Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington said it would not enhance his international prospects.

**holidaysong** · 15/08/2009, 11:33 AM

I seen this on BBC Newsline last night and I was genuinely shocked. Any idea what wages he'll be on?

**Steve Bruce** · 15/08/2009, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

I seen this on BBC Newsline last night and I was genuinely shocked. Any idea what wages he'll be on?

Rumour has it �2k.

But it is a rumour, I have no hard evidence to back it up.

This could be a fantastic signing of massive proportions or he could come in with the attitude 'i'm better than everyone else' and not perform to his abilities.

I think the fact he was unable to get a team in England/Scotland speaks for itself.

**Mr_Parker** · 16/08/2009, 1:19 PM

He will be getting just und �1k

**Dodge** · 16/08/2009, 1:35 PM

The fact that it made the news shows it can be a decent signing. If he brings an extra 100 people to the games he'll pay for himself

**Mr A** · 16/08/2009, 3:37 PM

A signing that surely represents a bit of a gamble.

**Steve Bruce** · 16/08/2009, 5:28 PM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

He will be getting just und �1k

Sources?

**Steve Bruce** · 16/08/2009, 5:29 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

The fact that it made the news shows it can be a decent signing. If he brings an extra 100 people to the games he'll pay for himself

Considering Glentoran aren't paying his wages, anything extra that comes in the gate is profit.

**Predator** · 16/08/2009, 6:44 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Considering Glentoran aren't paying his wages...

Yeah, isn't it 'Fone a Cab' or something that's 'sponsoring' him?

**Dodge** · 16/08/2009, 8:33 PM

Alll the better.

**Mr A** · 16/08/2009, 10:42 PM

I heard it was William Hill.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 16/08/2009, 11:12 PM

Probably good for the Glens for a season but surely the end of his Northern Ireland involvement.

**Dodge** · 17/08/2009, 9:04 AM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

Probably good for the Glens for a season but surely the end of his Northern Ireland involvement.

Playng in the IL hasb't stopped others from being called up. Alaan Mannus is with Rovers now, and still got called up

**ifk101** · 17/08/2009, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Playng in the IL hasb't stopped others from being called up. Alaan Mannus is with Rovers now, and still got called up

He's 34 now and very much an average footballer at this stage of his career. Signing for Glentoran seems more to be a marketing gimmick than anything else. Obviously you don't need to be much of a footballer to play for Northern Ireland but there's a few players ahead of Gillespie now on the international scene so it's unlikely that he'll play for NI again.

**Predator** · 17/08/2009, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by ifk101

Obviously you don't need to be much of a footballer to play for Northern Ireland but...

Ooooh controversial!

**Dodge** · 17/08/2009, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by ifk101

He's 34 now and very much an average footballer at this stage of his career. Signing for Glentoran seems more to be a marketing gimmick than anything else. Obviously you don't need to be much of a footballer to play for Northern Ireland but there's a few players ahead of Gillespie now on the international scene so it's unlikely that he'll play for NI again.

That wasn't my point. Lionel's post implied that his NI career was over because he signed for Glentoran. Thats isn't the case.

Its over because there are better options around

**ifk101** · 17/08/2009, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Lionel's post implied that his NI career was over because he signed for Glentoran. Thats isn't the case.

Its over because there are better options around

Agree with what you are saying but I didn't read Lionel's post that way - ie I read his post as questioning the circumstances behind why Gillespie has signed for Glentoran rather than knocking the status of Glentoran as a club and IL football in general. Glentoran have done a lot of cost cutting since the end of last season so a sponsor coming in to pay Gillespie's wages suggest that this is no more than a marketing gimmick rather than Gillespie trying to further his career and get back into the NI international setup.