Plan B required, as Killa knocks back Toon to stay with Blades?
Posted on January 6th, 2010 | 67 Comments |
The player is seemingly committed to helping Sheffield United obtain promotion to the Premier League. In a statement from the player’s agent, Paul Masterton said:
“We have spoken to Kevin Blackwell to say Matthew is fully committed to Sheffield United until the end of the season. We have also informed Newcastle United about the situation.”
“Matthew is keen to win promotion with Sheffield United. If that happens, we will re-assess the options in the summer.”
This seems kind of fishy to me and has the stench of an agent trying to get the best deal for himself. After all, such a committed player has refused to sign a new contract and could leave his current club in the summer, earning them no money whatsoever. I like to think the best of people, so perhaps the lad is comitted to The Blades after all?
Masterton went on to add:
“We have done what was asked and made Matthew’s intentions clear. Now the club knows that they do not have to get anyone else in and that Matthew is concentrated fully on helping the club win promotion.”
“It’s not about money, It is about picking the right club for a player who wants to play at the highest level during the best years of his career. He is totally committed to Sheffield United, has a good rapport with the supporters, and does not want any uncertainty over his future affecting his team-mates.”
Now surely if Kilgallon wants to “enjoy the best years of his career” playing in the Premier League, then Newcastle may be the best place for him? I mean that with no disrespect to Sheffield United. Perhaps, as I said, the agent is trying to manufacture the best possible deal for himself. If the player leaves for free in the summer, then that is generally reflected in the player’s new club paying a slightly higher signing-on fee, something the agents no doubt get a slice of!
Either way we can only take this statement on face-value, but it certainly looks like Newcastle have suffered a setback in our early transfer-window efforts to bolster the squad. So what of a contingency, assuming we have one, and which alternatives do we have lined up for this eventuality?
What happened to the original headline, Toonsy? It was very good.