Peterborough United have an interesting transfer policy. It is seemingly run like a business, players are acquired and nurtured like stocks and shares.

Some rise in value, such as Jack Marriott and Marcus Maddison. Both were signed from lower divisions and succeeded at London Road. Others are offloaded when they pay little dividends, Ricky Miller being the latest example.

Then there's their policy of transfer listing any player in the final year of his contract. fearful of losing money perhaps, but any player not on a longer deal is listed in May. More often than not, they're gone by August.

Last year Marcus Maddison penned a new deal after being listed and subsequently came off the list, which benefitted all concerned. Michael Bostwick, the club captain, did not and he was sold to League Two Lincoln City, despite being the club's Player of the Year.

There's clearly an important business message here, one that perhaps some clubs should take not of. The club will never be held to ransom by a greedy agent because Darragh MacAnthony and Barry Fry simply don't let it get to that situation. They're measured in their dealings with players, perhaps treating them as stock rather than people.

In a time when player power seems to be everything, there's something mildly refreshing about the Peterborough way.

There's also the darker side to their policy though, the harvesting of young players and the cold way they're dealt with if they fail to produce. Ricky Miller was the homecoming king, securing a move back to his home city with a big child-like grin on his face in May 2017.

By January his chairman was openly telling him to leave, conducting the saga through the media. Miller wasn't a success, far from it, his antics brought a certain disgrace to the club, but should he be publically shamed by his club in such a way?

It doesn't put off the players who keep queuing up for a chance to throw the dice in the London Road casino. Joe Ward left Woking in January to try his luck, Danny Lloyd left Stockport six months earlier to do the same. Signs are the latter might be next season's Marcus Maddison, over-hyped by the publicity machine that is Darragh MacAnthony hoping for another big sale.

Joe Ward looks less likely to succeed and could well find himself in League Two without so much as a thank you. That's the risk you take when you sign on the dotted line at London Road.

Whatever the fans may feel, the model works to a degree. George Boyd, Dwight Gayle, Ryan Bennett, Lee Tomlin, Connor Washington and Britt Assombalonga. All of these players have been sold for over £1million each, but the question has to be asked; where might Posh be now if, instead of cashing in on their stars, they'd hung on to them and reaped the rewards?

Are Peterborough United going too far towards the business model and forgetting that once in a while, you have to hang on to your crown jewels and not continually turn over players? If they went against their own policy, just once, could they find themselves in the Championship for more than a single season?

With Steve Evans now in charge, another well-known wheeler and dealer, I fear we may never find out.

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