We were talking to Plymouth

Last updated : 13 February 2005 By Tony Scholes

David Friio - one of the two targets from Plymouth
It all started on Thursday morning when news broke that Chairman Barry Kilby was in talks with another club over the potential transfer of two players. There were suggestions coming in from all over, some possible, some likely and some hard to believe.

It went from one extreme to the other with one suggestion that we were going to re-sign Brad Maylett who would be coming from Swansea with Lee Trundle, many were speculating that it was James O’Connor and take your pick from West Brom, Kenny Deuchar plus one from Gretna whilst the most ridiculous of all centred on Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The striker is out injured and is hoping to get the go ahead to start some running next month as part of his rehabilitation with the hope of starting playing again next season – apparently he was coming on loan until the end of the season, presumably to give Andy Mitchell some extra work.

However, Steve Cotterill was hit with a direct question regarding Plymouth’s David Friio last night and confirmed that he and Plymouth’s central defender Paul Wotton were to two targets but the deals were now dead with both players agreeing to sign other deals.

The 27-year-old Wotton, a one club man and Plymouth born, has decided to remain with the Pilgrims and signed a new contract with them to keep him at Home Park until the end of the 2007/08 season.

Manager Bobby Williamson said, “I’m delighted Paul’s decided to stay. A club made an enquiry about him this week but I didn’t want to sell him. I want to keep him here as long as I’m here. He’s Plymouth through and through.”

Wotton scored the only goal from the penalty spot yesterday in their 1-1 draw with Rotherham, back in December he converted the last minute spot kick that beat the Clarets.

David Friio though has left Plymouth but chosen to move to Nottingham Forest in a deal reported to be between one hundred and two hundred thousand. Friio, 32 this week, is a strong midfielder who scores his fair share of goals.

The Frenchman joined Plymouth towards the end of 2000 and has been a major player in their two promotions. He was out of contract at the end of the season and wanted a move and put Plymouth under pressure to sell him.

Williamson admitted, “We refused Forest’s first offer but David was up in arms and I couldn’t see how we could hold on to him after that. We accepted the second offer which was much closer to what we were looking for.”

So the speculation is at an end, we know who they are and we know we are not getting them. Let’s hope that doesn’t bring a return to rumours of Solskjaer or unwanted Forest strikers.