Coventry City news as Kasey Palmer opens up on the contract offer that never happened and his relationship with Mark Robins
Kasey Palmer has opened up on his Coventry City departure, claiming he was offered a new contract which was then withdrawn, forcing him to make the switch to Championship rivals Hull.
The 27-year-old midfield playmaker made a surprise deadline-day transfer to the Humberside club, two years into his three year deal at the CBS Arena. Sky Blues boss Mark Robins revealed at the time that he “wasn’t in a position to offer him a new contract” and said it was a case of agents that “agitate to get moves for their players”.
Asked when he was first aware of interest from the Tigers, Palmer told BBC Radio Humberside: “I’d probably say the week before deadline day, roughly, but obviously interest could lead to nothing. And then it kind of picked up quite quickly the day before deadline day and as it got closer to the end of the window. And when it got to the stage that it could really happen, the dialogue started from there.
“Obviously we had the initial contact, speaking to my agent and talking about the project. And then you have the phone calls with the manager and sporting director, and then it all accelerates quite quickly because of the timescale to get it over the line, so there was all sorts of convos and it kind of went rapidly.”
Asked what it was like leaving Coventry, he said: “It’s a weird one to be fair because, ultimately, I did enjoy my time there. I loved working with the staff at the club, so yeah, it was one of them, it was kind of my decision for my career, do you know what I mean?
“Obviously I had a year left. At first I thought I was going to sign a new contract but for different reasons it didn’t come. And then, obviously it was a decision I had to make, coming into deadline day I had a contract offer from Hull and it was one that I had to take.”
Questioned on what changed at Coventry from where he felt he was to all of a sudden not being in that position, he explained: “I got told one thing, that I was going to be offered a new contract. For me, I was willing to take the new contract and it came and it made sense for me. I have got three kids and a missus. Normally it comes down to being a family man and a dad, so yeah, for different reasons there was no contract offer after being told there would be one. So then I had to make a decision for my family.”
Asked whether that changed his relationship and how he felt about the club at that point or whether he just accepted that it’s just football, he said: “It’s just how football is. I don’t look back at Coventry and think anything less of the club. I appreciate the manager, who brought me in, and the fans have always been good to me. So there’s no bitter feeling from my end and hopefully I’ll go back there and they’ll clap and it’s all good.
“I spoke to all the staff and the players, and everyone kind of understands from my perspective why I had to make the decision I did.”
Finally, asked what Mark Robins was like to play under and how big a part did he play in what he did at Coventry, he added: “He was great for me. I obviously had a few injuries, which was difficult and he supported me, so I will always be grateful to him, and he’s been a big reason in why Coventry have flown up the leagues and almost got into the Premier League. He’s an icon at the club and he can’t really do any wrong there.”
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