Cody MUST be offered a deal!

[The White Horse]

So it's emerged that Cody McDonald would dearly love to stay at Priestfield and is yet to receive an offer from the Club as he'll be out of contract in the summer.

In my opinion, the Chairman should already have been making a move to secure Cody's signature for at least a further two years - probably three? - as he's by far and away the best striker to play for Gillingham in a very long time. His recent form - five goals in his last five appearances - will surely have come to the notice of other clubs and with the transfer window open offers could be made to try to tempt him away. I hope Mr Scally is not tempted as it's a bit like the Royal family selling off the Crown Jewels.

Just look at these stats:

Despite a poor run of form earlier this season, Cody is one of the most prolific strikers ever to play for The Gills and the stats below prove it as he is averaging almost a goal every other game and this compares very well with the list of all-time Gills' goalscorers with only Hughie Russell and Ernie Morgan scoring more regularly.

Player, Appearances, Goals, Average per game
Hughie Russell        209     120     0.57
Ernie Morgan          163      77      0.47
Cody McDonald       124      57      0.46
Ken Price                194      89      0.46
Tug Wilson             253     113     0.45
Tony Cascarino       269     110     0.41
Brian Gibbs            284     110     0.39
Brian Yeo               387     147     0.39
Steve Lovell           275     104     0.38
Danny Westwood    238      77      0.32
Damien Richardson 357     102      0.29

As far as I can recollect, only one of Cody's goals have come from the penalty spot whereas several other players totals include spot kicks and the number of appearances don't take into account appearances as a substitute - and in Hughie Russell's case all of his games were full appearances.

Now we are (at last) playing an attacking brand of football and Cody is being allowed to more freedom from defensive duties he will surely get to the 20 goal mark this season and will then be just outside of the top 10 all time goal scorers.

OFFER HIM A DEAL NOW!

[muppet]

White horse you not Cody's agent are you!?
Impressive data and totally agree with you, two very good goals last night and with the right partner will score us lots if goals.

[The White Horse]

Thanks for the compliment muppet. No, not his agent - but a long-standing fan who appreciates quality when he sees it.

[dazza23]

Cody's problem may be that he is most probably the highest paid player in the squad and with a new manager coming in he might want to free funds up to bring in his own players. I agree he should get an extension but I would only give him another 12 months on top as we all see how quickly Kedwell declined and Cody is of a similar age.

[gillsjan]

Cody will be looking for at least a 2 year deal there are other clubs out there who would very much like him. It would be in the clubs interest to offer ASAP

[Deleted]

Goal scorers are irreplaceable. As long as his wage demands aren't excessive, a new deal should be a no brainer

[gillsjan]

Ebbsfleet will be on the prowl !

[holbrook]

As it appears, we may not have a new manager in time to use the transfer window. Therefore he will have to use the players we already have. In that case a new deal for Cody is a no brainier.

[swingfieldgill]

Please. please Mr Scally, sit down with Cody asap. We need a fully motivated Cody very much at the moment as apart from Egan & Legge no-one else seems to know where the goal is.

[gillsjan]

It took so much effort to get him back to GILLINGHAM we do not want to lose him now.

[muppet]

I think if we offer a longer deal, then wages maybe the same, he being happy with the security of a longer contract. Agree with you all, so hard to find a decent goal scorer and he has never let us down.

[swansgills888]

Cody is a natural goalscorer we need to tie him down for 2 years at least because without him and his goals we would have been relegated last season and his goals this season have been crucial for us, he is the main man at our club, let him go and we will find is difficult to replace such a gifted striker, I love cody !!

I would love him him to stay for long as possible, not since Robert Taylor, Steve Lovell and tony cascarino have we had such as top striker.

[statotheblue]

To offer anyone a new deal while looking for a new manager is total madness.Top goal scorer means top money.Back the new boss it should be one of his first jobs sure just not now.Cody and other ins and outs are a good way Scally will be able to pick the best man take that away and you take the new managers power away before he starts and hand it all to Scally.IF YOU DON'T WANT SCALLY TO APPOINT HIMSELF BOSS GIVE HIM TIME TO GET THE RIGHT MAN.Fans keep saying they want the manager to be able to stand up to Scally and before he starts you want Scally to pull the rug from under his feet.Give the new man some budget and time to put things right.

A new boss for years(I hope he will do well enough to stay) not just for Christmas.

[ollybeak]

Yes, but apparently we are already talking to Hoyte, we've tried to off load Barrett, Kedwell has gone and Marquis has come in.This is probably all of Lovell s dealing, so don't be surprised if the manager is already at the club.

[muppet]

Don't think any manager will want to lose Cody, but if a new manager is imminent anyway then not going to be an issue as I would expect he will want to get his signature ASAP.