Darragh MacAnthony, the chairman of Peterborough United, has allayed concerns about a player firesale at the Weston Homes Stadium this summer.
The potential departure of several key players following Posh’s elimination from the League One play-offs at the hands of Oxford United last week has caused some anxiety on social media.
On Sunday morning, the PT made public the first-team roster’s contract status, revealing that nine players were about to begin their final season of employment and five players were out of contract.
However, MacAnthony released a video message today in which he expressed gratitude to the players, management, office, and playing staff for their efforts during the 2023–24 season. He also used the occasion to reassure supporters regarding sales and signings. He thinks the upcoming season will see Posh go stronger and better.
“I want to stop seeing or hearing terms like ‘firesale,'” MacAnthony declared. There has been discussion that we may lose nine or ten players, but that is simply not going to happen because we already have excellent players and staff on the team. We want to bring in more outstanding players. As is typical with our club, there will be comings and goings, but our goal is to support the team and develop them into a bit stronger as long as the salary cap allows it.
“In the event that we remained in League One, we are prepared to carry out our plan. For the next nine weeks, Liz (Elsom, secretary) and Barry Fry and I will be working very hard. We plan to re-establish our growth and achieve our lofty goals without overtaxing our inexperienced team, all while increasing the level of pride among our supporters. This season’s fan base has been great; they supported our team retooling from the very beginning, and I’m already looking forward to the next one.
“I’ve heard that the league will be tougher the following season with major clubs joining us from both above and below, but we have faced some formidable opponents in League One in the past, including Leicester, Leeds and Sunderland.
This season has brought me a great deal of pleasure. Along with the backroom crew, playing personnel, and their families, the management team has been an incredible asset to the club. They deserve better than to conclude the season the way they did, but they have made a lot of sacrifices, so good luck to Oxford and Bolton at Wembley.
“After Oxford defeated us, I made sure the players got beer to celebrate and that the Oxford directors received a bottle of champagne. When we’ve been successful, other clubs have taken care of things for us.
“And following the Oxford game, I spoke with the players in the changing room for the first time. I wanted to tell them to be proud of what they accomplished this season and to look in the mirror for their hard work. The division’s youngest team played in a really impressive manner.
In July, Posh will travel to Spain for a preseason training camp.
