Caley Thistle midfielder Greg Tansey's rejects 'money-grabber' jibes over contract situation
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GREG Tansey has strongly refuted suggestions he is a “money-grabber” – and insists insults will not make him rush a decision on his future.
In a strong rebuke to some supporters accusing him of being motivated by money, the Caley Thistle midfielder said that could not be further from the truth.
It emerged this week that Tansey was not willing to sign an extension, with manager Richie Foran asserting he was “80 per cent” convinced that Tansey would leave.
Tansey, like Josh Meekings, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to Aberdeen, who tried to sign him last January.
He accepts that he will take some criticism, but to say he is chasing the coin is an allegation wide of the mark.
“The situation is I’m taking time to think. It’s a massive decision at my age – people have got an opinion on it and I’ve seen people calling me a money-grabber,” he said. “They’re entitled to their opinion but they don’t know me. That doesn’t motivate me.
“People pay money and are entitled to their opinion, it’s great that they care about the club. I’ll take the stick, it doesn’t matter.
“No way will it hurry me up in my decision. I’m a 28-year-old man, I think I’m old enough to take a bit of stick. I’ll get on with it. I’ll make the decision when I’m ready.
“It doesn’t irritate me. I’ve got a lot of respect for the fans even if they give me a bit of stick, calling me a money-grabber. But most of them don’t know me as a person and that doesn’t really come into it.
“I could have come out about the move last January but I didn’t. I stayed true to the club, to the dressing room and the board.
“I’ve been up here three years now and I’ve loved it. They’re my mates in there – it’s the closest changing room I’ve ever been in. I just need to take time to think about it.”
Tansey will soon be able to speak to other clubs, given he is in the last six months of his deal.
His performance on Wednesday night, in the 2-1 defeat to Motherwell, was certainly not one of a man prepared to down tools.
Much improvement is needed ahead of a vital trip to Dingwall tomorrow, for the final Highland derby of 2016.
“When the chips are down we’ve got to demand performances out of each other. That’s what we need just now,” said Tansey. “They’ll be up for it and if they’re not, they’re going to be in for a bad day. We’re both going to be up for it and we have to win, simple as that.”
