In the Championship – Clarets lead the way
Last updated : 21 June 2004 By Tony Scholes
 | Joe Royle - I know nothing |
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Apart from clinching the signing of John McGreal from Ipswich we have also brought in a new assistant manager, coach and physio as well as arranging a trip to Austria at the end of July.
It is good to see our manager is busy working for the club because that is not the case everywhere in the division, if we are still able to call it a division and that has upset supporters at a couple of clubs.
When McGreal’s signing was confirmed the Ipswich supporters were stunned to hear that there manager Long Ball Joe knew nothing about it. He was able to make a quick comment as he rushed to get to the England v Switzerland game.
Portman Road could be on fire and he wouldn’t know but it is slightly less worrying for the Coventry fans.
Peter Reid has sent them a special message from Portugal to tell them that he is confident of signing a striker to replace Julian Joachim who moved to Leeds last week. That should set their minds at rest.
There has been precious little transfer activity although Watford and Wigan have joined Burnley with a signing. Watford have signed Icelandic Brynjar Gunnarsson, the former Stoke and Forest defender whilst Wigan have splashed out on Torquay’s David Graham. The striker hit 22 league goals for the Devon club last season.
There’s speculation as ever and Cardiff are keen to sign West Brom’s Sean Gregan whilst Leeds have pulled out of a move for Liam Lawrence from Mansfield.
Derby are looking for a striker and they are not too fussy, he has to be between 25 and 27 and have pace. Apparently they cannot find one in England so are looking abroad. They have lost one player though. Youl Mawene didn’t react quickly enough to his new contract offer so they have withdrawn it.
 | Gareth Williams - on his way to Leicester but not for £3 million + |
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Ipswich are desperate to offload Marcus Bent and have done everything apart from putting adverts in the national papers. He is supposedly on £17,000 per week and having returned from a loan at Leicester the Tractor Boys are having to find the money. Both Portsmouth and West Brom have made enquiries but right now there has been no offer.
The East Midlands war between Leicester and Forest continues over the transfer of Gareth Williams. Forest have admitted that he will now move to Leicester at the beginning of July but they think the Foxes’ offer is derisory. They are still demanding between three and five million in compensation. Needless to say they won’t get it.
Preston want a lower division centre half but apparently his identity is a secret. Nothing can happen because the chairman is away on holiday and so it seems that shuts Deepdale down.
Reading have made a big signing, they are installing a big video screen in the Madejski. Quite what it will do for the stadium with a library style atmosphere is anyone’s guess.
The Clarets are not the only club going to Austria, Stoke are off there the week before and have sorted themselves a couple of games against Roma and Levski Sofia – yes I did say Austria.
Sheffield United Chief Exec Terry Robinson is delighted with the rebranding within the Football League and incredibly thinks that playing in the Coca-Cola Championship will increase attendances at Bramall Lane.
Back on planet earth Ipswich had a big crowd this week when over 22,000 packed into Portman Road to see Elton John in concert. For those not keen on the former Watford chairman’s music it must have been a nightmare, he was on stage for three hours.
 | £50,000 raised for a statue for Sunderland's 'Messiah' Bob Stokoe |
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We do need to correct an error from last week regarding the appeal on Wearside to raise money for the ‘Statue for Stokoe’. We reported that they had raised £45,000 towards the £50,000 target.
They had indeed raised that amount and with a golf day, featuring former Claret Gordon Armstrong, they have now taken that to £50,000. However the target is £73,000.
Finally all hell has broken out at Rotherham. There were queues for season tickets a week ago after an agreement was reached for Neil Freeman to take over the club.
In the last few days that has all changed. It appears Freeman’s button must have been like Peter Shackleton’s after all and no money has arrived. Current chairman Ken Booth has called the whole thing off and that has brought about even more queues, this time people trying to get their money back on season tickets.
Ronnie Moore has now said he will have to go looking for players on his ‘B’ list rather than his ‘A’ list and is clearly far from happy.
But the fans must be less happy than Ronnie and have been causing problems at the ground so much so that the club have announced that the ticket office and club shop will now remain closed on Saturdays until further notice because of their aggressive nature.
Welcome back to the real world of no money Rotherham fans, hope you enjoyed your week away on the other side.