West Brom Sign Barnes
February 4, 2010
Former Derby County midfielder Giles Barnes has joined West Bromwich Albion on an 18-month contract.
The 21-year-old had been training with West Brom after having been released by Derby in December.
Barnes has been struggling with injuries in the past year, but has managed to show West Brom his ability.
West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo told his club’s website: “Giles has had injury problems over the past couple of seasons but has undoubted ability.”
Di Matteo added: “We’ve seen encouraging signs to offer him this deal, which has been structured to suit all parties.
“There is no question that if Giles can get his career back on track, we’ll have a very talented player on our hands.”
Palace Go Into Administration
January 26, 2010
Crystal Palace have been entered into administration and an automatic 10 point penalty will see the Eagles go from within touching distance of the play-off positions to a relegation battle.
Owner Simon Jordan has been courting investors for the Selhurst Park club for months but as many clubs have found in the economic climate, it is very difficult to attract the money men to any club beneath the Premier League. The players have twice had to wait for payment of their wages this season and a transfer embargo was also placed on them.
The Eagles will drop to 20th position in the Championship and after producing excellent results this season, Neil Warnock’s men will have to continue this form to ensure they keep their Championship status. Several of Palace’s star players will be available for transfer, none more so than youngster Victor Moses who has attracted attention from the Premier League and is likely to leave before the end of January.
Palace will sit four points above the relegation zone and if they lose their key performers, it will make it difficult for experienced boss Warnock to muster enough points to keep the Eagles in the division. It must be said though that under Warnock, Palace have performed above expectation and would still fancy their chances of staying up.
The Selhurst Park club have debts nearing the £30million mark and a winding-up order has been placed against them. Administrators have been appointed to help find buyers for the club as the Eagles face an uncertain future.
It seems a matter of time before an established football club ceases to exist, with the likes of Notts County and Portsmouth also having their financial woes this season and many more clubs heavily in debt. Unfortunately we may have to wait for this to happen before the rest of football wakes up and realises that spending beyond your means and chasing the dream is a recipe for disaster.
Richard Howard
Beckford hands in transfer request
January 7, 2010
FA Cup giantkillers Leeds United’s goalscoring hero Jermaine Beckford as expected on Wednesday handed in a transfer request opening the way for a lucrative move possibly to Newcastle United.
The 26-year-old – whose contract expires at the end of the season – scored his 20th goal of the season for the League One leaders in their stunning 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
However, on Wednesday his agent told the BBC that Beckford had indeed handed in his transfer request.
Leeds manager Simon Grayson seemed resigned to losing the former windscreen wiper fitter, who cost 45,000 pounds when he signed from non-league side Wealdstone four years ago, but insisted that he would not let him go for a derisory fee.
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has already spoken of his desire to sign Beckford but says he will be patient in his pursuit of the striker.
Middlesbrough appoint Strachan
October 27, 2009
Former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan was named on Monday as the new manager of English Championship side Middlesbrough taking over from Gareth Southgate who was sacked last week.
The 52-year-old Scot, a former player at Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds United, has been linked with various jobs since he stood down at Celtic Park at the end of last season.
“Gordon Strachan will be unveiled as Boro’s new manager at a press conference at the Riverside at 2.30pm this afternoon,” the club announced on its website.
The move will see Strachan return to English football having opened his managerial career at Coventry before moving on to Southampton, who he led to the FA Cup final in 2003.
He became Celtic’s manager in 2005 and led the Glasgow giants to three consecutive Premier League titles before being pipped by arch-rivals Rangers last year after which he stepped down.
Southgate’s dismissal came as a shock to those outside the club, with Boro chairman Steve Gibson renowned for giving his managers time to get things right.
The former England defender could not prevent the club sliding out of the Premier League last season, and Gibson revealed it was his fear that Boro would not bounce back at the first attempt which led him to sack Southgate.
Gibson last week told Middlesbrough’s website: “When I sat down and considered our start to the season, I felt that the league table was actually more favourable than some of our performances.
“Then I looked at the important games against the teams immediately around us, and took those results into account.
“In general the results and the performances have not been to the level I would have hoped for.”
The team were led on a temporary basis by Colin Cooper at the weekend and drew 2-2 at Preston. They are now three points behind Championship leaders and north-east rivals Newcastle.
Tudgay Keen For Burnley Move
July 9, 2009
Sheffield Wednesday striker Marcus Tudgay has expressed a wish to talk to newly promoted Burnley and seal a move to the Premier League.
The Owl’s top scorer last season has attracted the interest of the Clarets and with the lure of top flight football on the horizon, Tudgay has had his head turned.
Back in May, it was announced the striker had agreed a new three year deal but crucially the deal was set to be signed on his return for pre-season.
However on hearing of Burnley’s interest the contract has not been signed and it is unlikely it will be.
This leaves Wednesday in an awkward position as Tudgay only has 12 months of his current deal to run and they would not want to lose him next summer for nothing.
Tudgay’s agent has been trying to engineer the move further by leaking stories in the press much to Wednesday manager Brian Laws’ annoyance.
However as a club deep in debt, it appears a matter of when not if Wednesday accept a bid for fans favourite Tudgay.
Ironically many Wednesday fans were celebrating Burnley’s play-off victory over rivals United in May but it is unlikely the Blades would have made a move for Tudgay if they had clinched promotion to the Premier League.
Over recent seasons, the Owls have reluctantly let several star names leave, with Chris Brunt, Glenn Whelan and Madjid Bougherra all leaving for pastures new.
If those three were still in the Wednesday team they would stand a great chance of promotion, however with another of their best players apparently set to leave, it could be another season of mid-table mediocrity for the Owls.
Richard Howard
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