Around One – Saddlers top this week's news

Last updated : 22 July 2003 By Tony Scholes

Paul Merson joins Walsall
He looked an unlikely target when they first were reported to be showing an interest and it looked as though Merson, keen to get back to the Midlands, was on his way to Wolves. But when that didn’t materialise Colin Lee made his move and got his man for two years and immediately handed him the captaincy. Within 24 hours Merson had made his debut at Moor Green.

This week has been very much the clubs getting back into the swing of things with a whole host of pre-season friendlies, matches and results we won’t bore you with. It has though seen a number of clubs making further signings in the build up to the new season.

A week ago Sheffield United had just announced a press conference to reveal a new signing, that turned out to be Mark Rankine from Preston who had been with the Blades on loan last season. Since then though Warnock has made two further signings in Tranmere’s Andy Parkinson and Mark Whitlow released by Bolton taking his summer signings to six. Warnock did say that was it and there would be no more before the start of the season.

Newly promoted Wigan are still waiting for their first signing but Cardiff strengthened their squad again this week with the free signing of Tony Vidmar. The 34 year-old defender has moved from Middlesbrough after previously playing in Scotland with Rangers. That’s two free signings now for the club with £10 million to spend in the transfer market.

Norwich yesterday managed to complete some business with the Franchise administrators and signed midfielder Damien Francis who had looked all set for Stoke last week before turning them down. Stoke though quickly signed Burnley target John Eustace on a three year deal to add to the signing of Clint Hill from crisis club Oldham earlier in the week. Stoke though as we reported last week have lost Andy Cooke who has gone off to South Korea to play for Busan Icons.

Reading are better off without Glen Little says Pardew
If Norwich have been able to do business with Franchise it is something that Reading have found impossible in their attempts to sign David Connolly. Pardew has now said he will look at other targets after a deadline he set on the Connolly deal passed with no further progress.

Pardew though is delighted with the signing of Scott Murray and in something of a dig at Burnley said that Murray’s signing leaves them with a much stronger squad than they ended last season. In other words he considers Murray to be worth more than Glen Little and Luke Chadwick together.

Ipswich Town have upset another club, this time Grimsby, after snatching George Santos from under their noses. Santos, banished from English football after the Sheffield United v West Brom match in the season before last found himself at Blundell Park last season. Ipswich though having wiped out their debts have jumped in and signed him as cover for three months with players injured.

There have been a couple of other transfer deals. Bradford City have signed Birmingham goalkeeper Clint Davis on a two year deal and immediately loaned the 20 year-old to Halifax for a season whilst Crewe have snapped up Hayes 21 year-old midfielder Justin Cochrane. He had previously been with QPR but was released at 19.

Some players have also left the division. Preston keeper Tepi Moilanen, no longer wanted by The Weary Whinger, has signed for Hearts where he had a loan spell last season. Meanwhile Ipswich keeper Matteo Sereni has still not found his passport but the urgency is now over. He no longer needs to get back to England, he has moved on and signed for Lazio.

As Sunderland continue to look to sell some of their players the financial situation has been relieved somewhat down at West Ham. The Premiership’s Russian club Chelsea have given them £6 million for teenage full back Glen Johnson and they have added to that with a £2.5 million handout from KKMC for the services of Trevor Sinclair.

Kevin Phillips - one of the players Sunderland have so far been unable to sell
It’s getting worse for poor Sunderland, they might not even get a penny for striker David Bellion who has moved to Manchester United. Although having moved from one English club to another there should be compensation because of his age there are now suggestions that Sunderland did not go through the formalities of offering him a new deal. With Manchester United on the other end of the argument what chance do Sunderland have of winning this one?

One signing we haven’t mentioned is that of a new player at Crewe and this speaks volumes for their set up. They have signed 16 year-old Welsh goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams as a scholar. Williams chose Crewe after turning down offers from Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester United and Wolves.

Away from the transfer news and as expected John Gregory has decided to take legal action against Derby County following his sacking. County have responded and said they will fight him all the way.

Down at Gillingham the club have expressed surprise that they have had to order extra replicas of their training kit in the club shop. Remember that they initially changed the playing kit from blue to white and then after a protest had to settle for blue and black hoops. Well the training kit is blue and that is what the fans are buying rather than the playing kit.

Following our comments on the sad news of Elliott, the son of Gillingham chairman Paul Scally, we received the following response from the Head of Media at Gillingham last week.

"Many thanks for your kind words, which I have forwarded to Mr Scally. He has already said how touched he has been by the messages of sympathy from our own supporters, but I am sure a message from a rival club will have even more impact."

Today we have to report that Elliott sadly passed away on Sunday in his parents’ arms at the age of sixteen weeks – again we can only add our sympathy at this terrible time for everyone at Gillingham.

And just a couple of other stories to end this week’s round up. Lewes have become the latest club to change their minds on a pre-season friendly with Franchise after a protest from their own supporters. Is there finally going to be some justice in the game with the disappearance of the Franchise pariahs?

Finally for those attending our first league away game at West Brom there is a special ticket on sale at £39 plus VAT for what is billed as a Baggies’ Boing! Boing! Balti Buffet Night. The price includes a match ticket in the executive area at the Hawthorns and of course a Balti Buffet.

Hopefully by next week there will be more new players at the Turf, will see you then Around One.