In the Championship – Blades and Mackems busy
Last updated : 01 July 2004 By Tony Scholes
 | Jon Harley was Neil Warnock's first signing of the week |
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Transfers dominate the news this week and Bramall Lane was certainly the place to be. Jon Harley kicked it all off with a move from Fulham having spent loan spells with Sheffield United in each of the last two seasons.
Barry Hayles took the same route a couple of days later and before the ink had dried they were also welcoming Andy Liddell from Wigan and Sheffield Wednesday pair Alan Quinn and Leigh Bromby. To complete the week they snatched goalkeeper Phil Barnes just as he was about to commit himself to Blackpool.
That’s the end of the summer signing according to Warnock who let striker Wayne ‘Chief’ Allison move down the road to Chesterfield.
Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy is working on television in Portugal but it hasn’t stopped the signing of new players. He’s been shopping in the lower divisions and has brought in Dean Whitehead from Oxford and Mansfield’s much sought after Liam Lawrence. They have also done a deal with local rivals Newcastle and signed Stephen Caldwell.
There’s a familiar name in the list of new recruits at the Stadium of Light, one of the latest scholars to join their youth scheme is Luke Ball or should we say Bally Junior. Luke claims to be nothing like his dad and reckons he is not as physical – we took that as read.
Leicester have been losing players all over the place and another disappeared this week when Ben Thatcher chose KKMC above Portsmouth. Micky Adams has been doing his own deals though and they have added both Jason McAteer and Danny Tiatto to their squad whilst they will complete the signing of Gareth Williams from Forest this week.
Forest looked as though they could be re-signing Marlon Harewood from West Ham but the transfer rules have been pointed out to them. A player cannot be sold and then return to the same club on a permanent deal within twelve months. Forest will have to wait for their man.
 | Luton's Matthew Spring - wanted by both Forest and Leeds |
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They have been linked with Luton’s Matthew Spring, a player well known to manager Joe Kinnear, but Leeds are also in the hunt for the midfielder. Leeds are increasing their attacking options and are set to sign Michael Ricketts and Danny Cadamarteri.
They have really had to push the boat out to tempt Cadamarteri – he was just set to sign on the dotted line for Chester City.
Derby County have got their striker but he’s arrived from Sunderland and not mainland Europe as was suggested. Director of Football Murdo Mackay has signed Tommy Smith from Sunderland.
One transfer that hasn’t gone through is that of David Wright from Crewe to Wigan. It has been held up, if not scrapped, because of his agent demanding a fee and that has sent Dario G into a rage.
He seems to be accusing the agent of getting money for doing nothing other than making a few phone calls and that he is stopping the deal. Looks as though he is frightened of losing his commission.
Whilst with Wigan, former Burnley youth keeper James Salisbury has signed a new deal with them and is expected to be the number two behind John Filan next season.
Long Ball Joe’s still at Euro 2004 as the exodus from Ipswich continues. Chris Makin is the latest to say no thanks to a new contract and is set to be on his way. They have though managed to part with Marcus Bent to Everton.
Rotherham might not be under new ownership but they have completed the signing of Robbie Stockdale from Middlesbrough and expect him to be joined by West Brom’s Phil Gilchrist in the next couple of days. Both were on loan at Millmoor last season.
There’ll be two new faces at the Britannia Stadium this week. Former player Noel Blake is back to take charge of the youth team, a role previously held by Burnley’s new number two Dave Kevan.
Bryan Adams will also be there, the Canadian is in concert this week at the Windy City.
 | Youssef Safri - left Coventry for Norwich |
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Coventry have lost Moroccan Youssef Safri to Norwich but Peter Reid looks close to his first summer signing with the capture of Phil Babb who has been released by Sunderland. It was Reid who took Babb there two years ago.
The big news in Kent this week is that you can now buy official Gillingham car blinds – at least it is something with no new players as yet.
Apparently cheating Ricardo Fuller is going to be fit for the start of the season but it hasn’t stopped the whinging at Deepdale. They have made an offer for Bristol City defender Clayton Fortune and they are not happy that the news has got out. It only got out because they made a derisory offer. I think Bristol City thought they were having a laugh.
Having a laugh with Craig Brown – now that is stretching things.
Plymouth are off to Austria for pre-season, in fact they will be leaving just as we are arriving in the same place. They are even scheduled to play one of the same teams as the Clarets Wacker Burghausen.
Restrictions at the Den will be relaxed again somewhat next season. The membership scheme there for home fans was brought in two years ago but for next season only three of their home matches will be members only, those against Cardiff, Leeds and West Ham. I wonder why they chose those three.
There are structural problems at Vicarage Road with the old East Stand. The wooden section of the stand has to close and this means 600 season ticket holders will have to be moved into alternative seats.
Watford will not be repairing the stand, the cost is high with no guarantees that the problems will be solved. They are hoping to be able to buy back the ground and eventually rebuild.
For now though those season ticket holders plus the directors and press must move elsewhere.
Finally the multi-million pound takeover at Coventry by Joe Dhinsa is off. Chairman Mike McGinnity has had enough and is angry that the Young Asian Business Man of the Year has not followed up after promising to invest £40 million from Russian Oil Tycoons.
I seem to remember another club supposedly about to become rich via European Oil Tycoons a few years ago. We’d better check out whether there is anyone by the name of Shackleton involved at Coventry.
This week has seen the release of the fixtures. By the time we next take a look into the Championship the Clarets will be back in pre-season training and the 2004/05 season will seem that much nearer. There’s just under two weeks to the first friendly at Accy.