The next player to fall under our microscope is ex-Watford and QPR midfielder Gavin Mahon.
The next free agent to fall under our microscope is former Watford and QPR midfielder Gavin Mahon
As no-nonsense midfielders go, Gavin Mahon has been giving opponents up and down the country a hard time for longer than most. Now 34 years of age, the Birmingham-born enforcer has been there, done it and got an enviable collection of t-shirts. Mahon has vast experience of life in the Football League - having turned out for Hereford, Brentford, Watford, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace - while he also graced the Premier League in 2006/07 after skippering Watford to promotion the season before. He may be entering the twilight of his career, but he would still be a shrewd acquisition for any manager looking for extra steel and know-how in the middle of the park.
What's your situation at the moment? Have you had any interest?
I have had a couple of clubs enquire about me and ask about my availability. I have just decided to let things settle for a week or two. I am going down to Watford, because my mate Sean Dyche is down there, and I will be doing a bit of training. I will be able to start my pre-season. I just have to wait and see what comes up.
Was it worrying knowing you were going to become a free agent this summer or was it something you have just accepted?
I wouldn't say worrying. I was in a similar situation the season before last. That year I was injured but this year I'm fit so if a club does enquire about me and wants to see me, I can go there and train and try to earn a contract. But as you get older, managers are a bit more reluctant to offer you contracts for longer than a year but that is what I am looking to get.
There are a lot of one-year contracts around. Is that a problem, knowing that you might only get something for 12 months?
I think over the last few years, there aren't as many long contracts going around. It's not easy. You see the youngsters who are playing youth football and then before they know they are out of a job. It's not easy and it doesn't get any easier as you get older. There are so many clubs nowadays putting things on for life after football, different courses and that, because it's not a long career and you have to factor for that.
Have you started to think about life after football? Are you planning on going into coaching?
I have just completed my Level Three, which is my B license. I just passed that in May so I will be looking to keep going with that in the next couple of years. I think when you have played with so many good players and played under so many good coaches and managers, you can always give something back to the game. I've been fortunate to play in big games and under some good managers, in the Premier League, so I think I have got a lot to offer.
But for now are you focused purely on playing?
Yeah, I am. The last couple of years in training I have been sort of, without really thinking about it, trying to give my advice out on the training pitch to some of the younger lads. As I have got older I have done that more and I think that points you in the direction of coaching. The ideal situation would be to play for a couple more years and then see where I go from there.
Have you given any thought as to the standard you would like to play at? Are you hoping to stay in the Championship?
I have had two or three offers and two of them have been from good League One teams. But when you get to my age you want to play as high as you can. I think my body can still play at Championship level. I have played a lot of games at that level and I don't think it will be a problem. I have played 250-300 games in this league, so I know what you have to do to play at that level and I think I could still do a job for someone.
Prior experience of life in the Championship could be crucial to you couldn't it, because it is such a tough division?
It is. You see so many players who have played in the Premier League or get bought into the Championship from the lower leagues and it's tough for them. A lot of the time it is two games a week and a lot of it is physical as well. I think at times the Premier League isn't as quick as the Championship and that's why you get so many cup upsets because they can't play at the intensity that Championship teams do. It's a very demanding league, but it's a good league and there will be a lot of good teams in it this year.
Taking your family commitments into account, are you prepared to relocate or would you prefer to stay in the London area?
I don't mind, to be honest. I'm originally from Birmingham and all of my family are up there and my wife's family are from there as well. My son is about to start school and my daughter is already at the same school and I think that it might be better for me to move back to the midlands. It depends where I could go. I would have to see what comes up. I'm not too bothered where we go really. My wife has said that if we have to move up north somewhere and move the kids, that's fine - so we'll see what happens.
You have to be prepared to move don't you, as it's only a short career and you have to go where the contracts are?
It is only a short career. I've bit a little bit fortunate because I came down to Brentford over 10 years ago, the south side, and then to Watford, was there for five to six years, and then to QPR. There are quite a few lads who play for QPR who live out this way, so it was good being here. I have been fortunate that I have been able to stay in the same house for about 10 years. I have got friends who have played for 12-13 clubs and have moved all over the country. Sometimes you are fortunate and sometimes you aren't. But moving gives you a chance to see different parts of the country and meet new people, so that's good as well.
I imagine you now want to get something sorted as quickly as possible don't you, because you don't want to miss too much of pre-season?
No I don't. I have started training with the Watford boys. Sean Dyche told me the other day that I look to be in good shape and looking after myself and that's what you want to hear from somebody who used to play with you. I will be training this week and next week with them and see how things go from there.
To see the full list of players currently available as free agents, provided by the PFA, click
here.
We would like to hear your thoughts on the best free transfers out there. Who should we be talking to? Who are this summer's bargains? Who should your club be targeting?
Maybe you are a player that would like to be featured, or an agent looking to get a client fixed up for next season.
To offer your suggestions fill in the feedback form below or get in contact with either
chris.burton@bskyb.com (@SkySportsChrisB) or
alex.dunn@bskyb.com (@SkySportsAlDunn)
