Adrian Patulea cost Lincoln City around £15,000 and a bucket load of trouble after turning up on Peter Jacksons doorstep a year ago. His hat trick in a 6-0 win over Lincoln Utd pre season convinced Jackson to take a punt on the apparent free agent, but complications presented themselves when it was discovered Adrian was still contracted to his Romanian club. However he seemed committed to Lincoln City, Jacko was committed to bringing him in and so the two worked together against the world to ensure the lad became a Lincoln player.
After scoring on his debut against Barnet he went on to hit 11 goals in 33 games, despite missing a chunk of games in the middle of the season. Rumours began to circulate that the dream had gone sour - Patulea wasn't a dedicated trainer, Jacko didn't like the glory boy taking all the limelight......
He came back into the side to score our only goal of a 1-1 draw away at Chestefield, but came off injured fearing he may have played his last game for the club.
"I feel this was the final applause for me" he told radio Lincolnshire. Fans jammed messageboards and phonelines demanding Patulea be given a new deal. However just a few days after this, Steff Wright dropped a bombshell in the local media - Patulea had been offered a new deal, several months before. In fact it looked as if Adi was "keeping his options open".
Come the end of the season the much awaited retained list was released, and there in black and white was the new contract offer for Adi - just as the fans demanded. It finally seemed as if the saga was over. Only it wasn't.
The next day, despite the offer of a contract, Jacko hit out at his 'star' striker, suggesting that perhaps he was playing the club and the fans off against each other.
"We've offered Adrian a contract, but obviously he has his valuation and we have ours" he said. "He has since indicated a League One club are interested in him, now, whether that's true or not, or whether an agent has got into him, I'm not sure. I know there is a lot of hype among the fans about Adrian, but he has to be sensible in his demands." Finally the deadline for him to sign that deal came. Then it went, and the space reserved for the signature of Adrian Patuklea remains. City Chairman Steff Wright attempts to clarify the situation: "Adrian has rejected his contract and the deadline that was set to reach an agreement has since come and gone" he said. "The consequence of that is we now have the power to withdraw the offer altogether. "The ball is back in our court now with respect to his future and Peter must decide whether he is willing to sit down at the negotiating table again. "I know the question that is bound to be asked is 'will he be here next season?'. "I would say at this stage that looks unlikely, because the player may have his eye on moving somewhere else." "Adrian has rejected his contract and the deadline that was set to reach an agreement has since come and gone,
The consequence of that is we now have the power to withdraw Steff then made it clear where the decision on Patulea's future now lies. I know the question that is bound to be asked is 'will he be here next season?" So where next for Patulea? Rumours have him at Scunthorpe Utd or Grimsby Town. Should he move to either he will instantly divide City fans everywhere. Patulea fans will still call for the head of Peter Jackson, a man who simply cannot do right for doing wrong. However Jacko fans will see Patulea leaving as a blessing, a player who upset dressing room harmony, a player who held the club to ransom and used emotional blackmail on the fans to try and further his own career. LCM falls somewhere in the middle ground. The long drawn out negotiations and claims and counter claims have frankly bored us throughout his stay. Patulea is a decent player, but no more than that, he is not the saviour, he is not a Premier League striker and he can easily be replaced. So hopefully the club won't waste anymore of their time pursuing a player who despite his claims appears interested in lining his own pockets.
Ominously Jacko then added:
"But I firmly believe he might be playing the fans against myself and the club"
the offer altogether."
"The ball is back in our court now with respect to his future and Peter must decide whether he is willing to sit down at the negotiating table again.
Steff is quite correct, and the answer to that may not please fans of the Romanian:
"I would say at this stage that looks unlikely, because the player may have his eye on moving somewhere else."
So the pre season cries of loyalty from the player, and the mid season cries of loyalty from the player and indeed the end of season cries of loyalty from the player have all gone quiet. The offer was on the table, and is believed by LCM to be in keeping with the wages the rest of the squad take. However a player who loves the club and fans with all his heart appears to have taken the option of not feeling quite so close to them with his wallet.