2026 AGM

[Kmcalpin]

I wasn't at the AGM this year, but have read a few online accounts. It does seem as though the Board is keeping its cards close to its chest, unlike in previous years. 

Some interesting points though about JBA's contract, the Lennon Miller deal and stadium issues. 

To address your point Parko, I've no idea what an open ended contract is and neither does anyone else outside of the Boardroom. A very curious turn of phrase.

[dennyc]

From online digging it seems to be quite a common thing in the UK - 

"Open-ended contracts are commonly referred to as 'permanent,' indefinite,' or 'continuous employment' contracts. However, legally, they are the same, as they indicate that the contract is not fixed term and has no defined endpoint."

From what I can find it seems these contracts routinely include a notice period which can be invoked at any time by either employer or employee. The notice period will be whatever period the parties agreed originally. 3 months is fairly common. I guess, if both sides agree, an early release can be negotiated.

From our point of view I suppose it would save us having to pay out a year or more's wages were a Manager to be sacked mid contract The downside would be that we would not be due compensation if a Manager worked his notice before leaving, or receive only a small amount in compensation if another team were keen to take him without any delay.

Far from being an expert so if anybody knows any better please chip in.

 

[David]

From the limited amount that I know, If a football manager is on an open-ended contract, all it really means is that there’s no fixed expiry date. It runs until one side ends it.

The label itself doesn’t tell you much, I don't think. What matters is how the exit is drafted.

Everything turns on the notice period, how termination is defined, and what compensation is triggered. If the deal says six months’ notice, then that is effectively the club’s exposure. If it allows pay in lieu, the club can end it immediately and settle the notice amount. If there are enhanced protections, minimum guarantees, or specific bonus treatments written in, that changes the equation. If there’s a mitigation clause, any new job the manager takes may reduce what he’s owed. That is where the substance sits I reckon.

In football, most of the financial reality is likely driven by those mechanics, not whether the contract is open-ended or fixed-term. A three-year deal can offer far more security than an open-ended one if the payout on dismissal is stronger. Equally, an open-ended contract can still contain meaningful protections if negotiated properly. The drafting is everything.

The same applies if the manager is doing well, such as Jens is now, and another club comes in for him. Open-ended does not mean he can just walk out the door from what I can tell. He is still under contract. If he resigns, he is bound by the notice provisions. In practice, mid-season departures rarely work like that. The interested club approaches the current club, permission is sought to speak, and compensation is negotiated. If there is a release clause or a clearly defined buyout mechanism, the process is cleaner. If not, the current club holds the leverage and can demand a fee or simply refuse to engage.

So, for me, the distinction between fixed-term and open-ended is secondary. What actually determines power, protection, and financial exposure is how the exit terms are structured. That is where the leverage always sits.