In the Championship – Devout Fuller on his way

Last updated : 05 July 2004 By Tony Scholes

Ricardo Fuller - wants to quit Preston
Fuller of course wouldn’t do anything like this, WW was saying as much just a week earlier. There was no truth in the rumours that he wanted to move on. After all WW has been at pains to tell us what a wonderful man he is in the past.

Fuller is a blatant cheat, we had seen it on the television and we saw it for ourselves last season at the Turf. And now even WW has turned on him in no uncertain terms. Apparently this wonderful devout Christian who would never do anything wrong is running off for the money. Portsmouth looks likely to be his destination – I would suggest the south coast is far enough away for now.

It is a week where transfers and potential transfers take the news and Preston themselves have made their first summer move into the market. They have signed striker Andy Smith from Glentoran and are expected to clinch the move of Omar Daley from Jamaican club Portmore United.

It was Daley’s inclusion in a match last season that helped force the postponement of the Reading game at the Turf which so upset Barry Kilby. That problem with postponements for internationals has now led to changes in the fixtures that leaves us with nothing next Easter.


It was a busy week over at Elland Road. Danny Cadamarteri finally signed as did Ipswich Town’s Jermaine Wright (Long Ball Joe will have missed this one presumably because of his BBC commitments).

Former Blackburn player Craig Hignett is training with them whilst they are in talks with Everton goalkeeper Steve Simonsen. And of course they are desperately trying to get Richard Chaplow on the cheap.

Not bad for a club with massive debts – apparently they are trying to reduce their wage bill from £40 million to £20 million. It is all put in perspective when we get down to the Turf where ours is no more than £3 million.

They have sold another player – James Milner has gone to Newcastle – and Mark Viduka is expected to sign for Middlesbrough.

David Connolly - surplus to requirements at West Ham
Alan Pardew is all set to ring the changes with three forwards made available. Marlon Harewood cannot go back to Forest as he would like but could find himself in the Premiership following an offer from Norwich.

Leicester are keen to sign David Connolly as a replacement for Paul Dickov and the Hammers would listen to offers for Bobby Zamora. Could he yet end up back at Brighton where fans have been told not to panic by manager Mark McGhee.


One of the architects of boring football has not been able to add to his squad since promotion and he admits to having a very small budget. Fans in a panic because of a lack of signings, whatever next.


Cardiff
were just about the busiest club last week bringing in three new players. They started the week by completing the signing of Lee Bullock from York. Bullock was with them on loan at the end of last season and has now made the move permanent.


And on Friday they added Millwall goalkeeper Tony Warner and defender Robert Page from Sheffield United. Warnock said it was a dream move for Page, returning home to South Wales, and that he had turned Burnley down to sign for the Bluebirds.

Back down at Portman Road there could be another departure with full back Chris Makin set to snub their offer and head back to his native north west. The Reebok Stadium looks to be the likely destination.

LBJ is looking at strengthening his midfield and is keen on Dave Brammer from Crewe, Wigan’s Alan Mahon who was with them on loan from Blackburn last season, and Mark Kinsella who had moved from Villa to West Brom.

Derby have made no further signings after the capture of Tommy Smith last week but their east midlands neighbours certainly have. Jason Wilcox has signed for Leicester whilst Joe Kinnear has taken Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard and Kris Commons from Stoke to Forest.

Blessing Kaku - on Mick McCarthy's shopping list
Forest also have a South African on trial – Stanton Fredericks from Kaizer Chiefs and he has headed to the USA for their pre-season tour.


There could be a blessing at the Stadium of Light next season with Mick McCarthy keen to sign Nigerian international midfielder Blessing Kaku who is currently playing for Israeli club Ashdod.


One player who won’t be wearing their red and white stripes next season is Darren Byfield. He was signed from Rotherham until the end of last season and offered a new deal. But it is all off when the club withdrew the offer.

The answer lies in the comment from Byfield. He said, “I haven’t spoken to Mick McCarthy or the club directly since the end of last season. I leave all that stuff to my agent.

“I want to sign for Sunderland by my agent’s telling me there’s no deal now. I’m in limbo really, if the contract’s not on the table we’ll have to look around.”

I find it difficult to believe that players continue to do this when surely one phone call to McCarthy would have left Sunderland knowing that he wanted to stay.


Last week it was Dario G having a go at agents and apart from this John Rudge has hit out very strongly at Kris Commons’ agent following his move to Forest.

Apparently he failed to show for meetings at Stoke and this despite, as Rudge says, Commons indicating that he wanted to stop at the Britannia Stadium.


Peter Reid has made his first signing at Coventry bringing in Bjarni Gudjonsson from Bochum. Gudjonsson has previously been at Stoke where his dad Gudjon Thordason was manager.


But Reid’s future could be in doubt. Jojar Dhinsa who claims he is going to make Coventry as rich as Chelsea wants Gerard Houllier to replace him. The only problem here is that the takeover looks no more likely with the current board not convinced.

Per Frandsen has moved from Bolton to Wigan
Wigan have now completed the transfer of David Wright from Crewe and also added Bolton’s Per Frandsen and Watford have lost Lee Cook to QPR.

Kenny Jackett must have been doing a fantastic job as assistant manager at QPR. He moved to Swansea as Brian Flynn’s replacement and Ian Holloway has had to bring in three new coaches to replace him, all former QPR players.


Gary Penrice arrives as first team coach (attack), Gary Waddock first team coach (midfield) and Tim Breacker first team coach (defence).

Reading completed the signing of Glen Little last week and also arriving at the Madejski were Paul Brooker from Leicester and central defender Ibrahima Sonko from Brentford. Reading have been told in no uncertain terms by Coventry to keep away from Calum Davenport, their bid for him was turned down.

Preston had been linked with Sonko a week earlier but the Weary Whinger claimed he had never heard of him.

Jody Morris has snubbed Rotherham for Millwall – apparently Rotherham were not able to offer him European football – and former Norwich striker Iwan Roberts has joined Gillingham as player/coach.


But there is worrying news from Gillingham with Chairman Paul Scally talking about moving them out of town because of perceived problems with sites for a new stadium.


Incredibly they have spent a fortune on the Priestfield Stadium and now want to move. He admits they will stay in Kent but will make no further promises. Could this be another franchise? Surely the football authorities are not going to allow this again.


Dario G has made no signings as yet but wants Liverpool’s Neil Mellor on a year long loan. The player had his long term loan cut short at West Ham last season when new manager Alan Pardew wasn’t interested in playing him.

It looked all set to happen but the change of management at Anfield looks as though it has persuaded Mellor to stay and try and break into the squad.


Pre-season training has started for some of the clubs in the division and all will have different ideas. There are none stranger than at Watford where players were made to stand in a wheelie bin full of ice to cool down.

Finally this week what a shock to open a national newspaper and find a FOR SALE sign for a football club. That’s right, Rotherham United are still for sale and they are now advertising the fact in the national press.


Well that’s one way to do it.