Lafferty signs his exit papers

Last updated : 28 May 2008 By Tony Scholes
Kyle Lafferty
There has been much speculation in each of the last three transfer windows with offers coming from all of the above mentioned clubs as well as Fulham who were very keen to get him when Lawrie Sanchez was trying to rebuild Northern Ireland at Craven Cottage.

The player has always given the impression that he's been happy to stay with the Clarets but that's no longer the case and wasn't in January when he now claims that he wanted to leave.

It doesn't come as a surprise, last November he contacted this web site wanting phone numbers of all those who had dared to criticise him on the message board over a goal we'd conceded claiming they had no right to criticise him, and on New Year's Day at Blackpool he was involved in an unsavoury incident with some Burnley fans. He wasn't the instigator but he would certainly have been better advised not to get involved.

Since the end of the season we've learned of a bid from Wolves, and it is now evident that Rangers have also been in for him and are likely to come back with a bigger offer. That has led to Kyle giving an exclusive interview to the Belfast Telegraph this morning.

In that interview Lafferty said: "I've given my all to Burnley but don't feel wanted. I understand Wolves and Rangers want to sign me, I would be thrilled to move to either club. Celtic are also interested but I don't think that's ever going to materialise."

He continued: "I need a fresh challenge at my stage of my career. No player is going to stay where he is not wanted. I was happy under previous manager Steve Cotterill, things have changed though and to be honest I don't feel the same way.

"If I had been given the opportunity to leave during the last two transfer windows I would have left, however those bids were turned down by the club. I understand Wolves and Rangers want to sign me and I would be thrilled to move to either club. I've heard Celtic will also be making a bid but I don't think that move will ever materialise."

On Rangers he said: "It would be a dream to follow in Steven Davis' footsteps and play for a club I've supported since I was a boy and it's an honour though to be linked to a club with the proud history and stature of Celtic. I just hope Burnley can come to some sort of financial agreement with any of these three fantastic clubs.

"I understand that it will be the club who agrees the best deal with Burnley who gets my signature and that may turn out to be Wolves. They are a huge club who are always fighting for a play-off place or automatic promotion rather than struggling in the bottom half of the Championship.

"It's always been an ambition of mine to play in the Premier League and I feel, if I moved to Wolves then I'd have an excellent chance of reaching what many believe is the greatest league in the world. It would also help my international career.

"Playing for Northern Ireland is very important to me and if I want to secure my place alongside David Healy for the World Cup qualifiers then I feel it's imperative I make a move now. I feel the sooner a deal is done the better for everybody concerned."

The general reaction from Burnley fans is that it would now be better for everybody concerned if a deal was done quickly. There is nothing supporters dislike more than a player turning round and saying he doesn't want to play for their club any more.

For Burnley, for our fans, and obviously now for Lafferty, it is time for us to do a deal and get what we can for him.