All the news stories from January 2007
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EASTER STAYING FOR NOW
(Tuesday 30th January 2007)
Wanderers Assistant Manager Steve Brown says that the Club are not preparing to sell Jermaine Easter before the transfer window closes on Wednesday evening. Brown told the Midweek,
"We learned a massive lesson last season when we let Nathan Tyson join Nottingham Forest. We missed goals and his pace and we are not going to make the same mistake twice" Wanderers signed Scott McGleish from Northampton Town last week for a fee that the press report to be "around £80,000" but the Club claim he is not a replacement for Easter. Brown added, "We knew we lacked another goalscorer this time last season. Now we have gone in and got a proven one and that will take some of the pressure off the two who have scored goals." |
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McPARLAND SIGNS ON
(Tuesday 30th January 2007)
As expected Wanderers have converted the loan signing of Barnsley winger Anthony McParland to a permanent deal. The 24 year old, who signed on loan for Wycombe at the end of December, has signed a contract until June 2007. His only appearance to date was the New Years Day meeting with Hereford United but he will hope to get a run out for a Wanderers Reserve XI on Tuesday evening when they take on Aylesbury United in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup at Adams Park. Fellow new signings Leon Crooks and Fola Onibuje are also in the squad as Wanderers look to defend the trophy they have won for the past two seasons. Kick-off is 7.45pm. Adults £6, concessions £3. |
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JOHNSON SNUBS WANDERERS
(Monday 29th January 2007)
Simon Johnson's officially confirmed move to Wycombe from Darlington now seems to be off according to reports in the Northern Echo on Monday morning. The report says, "after discussing the deal with his family he was having second thoughts and would like to return to the club (Darlington)." This news comes just a couple days after the player commented via the Wanderers official website, "I really want to be a part of getting this club (Wycombe) promotion." The news follows on from the Club finally confirming on Saturday the departure of Kevin Betsy to Bristol City. The fee has been described as an "initial £150,000" but "could rise to £200,000 depending on clauses in his contract". The Club delayed the announcement until the finer details of the deal had been finalised. |
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SANCHEZ ON SEMIS
(Monday 29th January 2007)
Former Wanderers boss Lawrie Sanchez has compared the current Wycombe side's run to the Semi-Final of the League Cup with the achievement of reaching the last four of the FA Cup in 2001 under his leadership. Speaking of the 2001 side, Sanchez told BBC Online, "We over-achieved and the thing that killed us was the collapse of the ITV Digital deal when £450,000 had to be cut off from the budget. We had to cut out the biggest earners, who were the best players, and once we'd done that we dipped. You've got to keep your best players if you're going to achieve anything at any club."  Read feature on BBC Sport Online, |
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GRIFFIN RELEASED
(Friday 26th January 2007)
Striker Charlie Griffin has been released by 'mutual consent' after being recalled by Wycombe from Conference side Forest Green Rovers. Griffin was loaned to his former club at the start of the current campaign and made 12 appearances, scoring once, before the agreement was reached in the January window. |
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EASTER GETS WELSH CALL
(Friday 26th January 2007)
As expected Jermaine Easter has been called for the Welsh squad that will play Northern Ireland in Belfast in a friendly international on 6th February. Wrexham defender Ryan Valentine is the only other non-capped player in John Toshack's 24 man squad. It's the first full international call-up for a Wanderers player since Mark Rogers made it into the Canadian squad in March 2003. Full Welsh squad: Paul Jones (QPR), Lewis Price (Ipswich Town), Darren Ward (Sunderland), Gareth Bale (Southampton), Danny Collins (Sunderland) Richard Duffy (Portsmouth, on loan at Swansea City), Steve Evans (Wrexham), Craig Morgan (Peterborough United), Lewin Nyatanga (Derby County), Sam Ricketts (Hull City), Ryan Valentine (Wrexham), Simon Davies (Fulham), Carl Fletcher (Crystal Palace), Jason Koumas (WBA), Joe Ledley (Cardiff City), Carl Robinson (Norwich City), David Vaughan (Crewe Alexandra), Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), David Cotterill (Wigan Athletic), Craig Davies (Hellas Verona, on loan at Wolves), Jermaine Easter (Wycombe Wanderers), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Chris Llewelyn (Wrexham), Paul Parry (Cardiff City) |
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LAMBO ON BETSY DEPARTURE
(Friday 26th January 2007)
Wanderers boss Paul Lambert has spoken to the press about Kevin Betsy's £150,000 move to Bristol City. Although the Club had yet to confirm the deal, Lambert told the Bucks Free Press, "I'm disappointed to lose him, but that's the game. He's wanted to go for a number of weeks since Bristol first showed an interest and he's on his way there now." He added, "I tried to persuade him to stay but he wanted to go. It's his decision not ours" Meanwhile, Lambert says that he hopes to keep Jermaine Easter at the Club despite transfer speculation linking him with Premiership sides. The Cardiff born striker is expected to be named today (Friday) in the Welsh squad that will play Northern Ireland in Belfast in a friendly international on 6th February. |
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McGLEISH IN FROM COBBLERS
(Thursday 25th January 2007)
Wanderers continued their transfer window activity late on Thursday afternoon with the announcement that much travelled striker Scott McGleish has signed from Northampton Town for an 'undisclosed fee'. McGleish, who will be 33 in February, has crossed swords with Wanderers a number of times over the years. Originally starting his professional career with Charlton Athletic, he then moved to Peterborough United via a loan spell with Leyton Orient. Further loan spells at Colchester United and Cambridge United followed before a £50,000 return to Leyton Orient in November 1996. But it was a move to his home town club of Barnet in September 1997 that prompted the most successful spell of his career as he scored 42 times in just over 150 appearances. A permanent move back to Colchester in January 2001 started a three and a half year spell at Layer Road that saw another 47 goals, this time in 167 apps. McGleish moved to the Cobblers in the summer of 2004 and continued his scoring touch with 42 goals in 106 League apps before being a surprise inclusion on the January transfer list. He has joined Wycombe on a deal until the end of the 2008/9 season. |
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JOHNSON SIGNS FROM DARLO
(Thursday 25th January 2007)
Wanderers have signed Darlington midfielder/striker Simon Johnson for an 'undisclosed fee'. The deal was officially confirmed on Thursday afternoon. The 23 year old is a former trainee with Leeds United and made 9 appearances for United while they were a Premiership Club back in the 2002/3 and 2003/4 seasons. He has also had loan spells with Hull City, Blackpool, Sunderland, Doncaster Rovers and Barnsley before his free transfer move to Darlington in the summer of 2005. He scored 9 League goals in 64 appearances for Darlo and their Manager Dave Penney told The Northern Echo "Wycombe enquired about Simon yesterday (Wednesday). He is out of contract in the summer, they put a bid in which we accepted and it's all been agreed. He's been a bit-part player for us and that's why we let him talk to Wycombe. For fringe players, if we're getting offered a figure for his services then it would be wrong not to take it." He has signed a deal with Wycombe until the end of the 2008/9 season and will take the No.27 squad number. |
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BETSY OFF TO BRISTOL CITY
(Thursday 25th January 2007)
COTN understands Bristol City are set to complete the signing of Kevin Betsy for a fee believed to be £150,000. COTN first reported this transfer activity on Monday but negotiations over the final price were not concluded until after the tie with Chelsea on Tuesday evening. Betsy, who is out of contract with Wycombe at the end of the current season, finishes with a record at Wycombe of 89 appearances and 13 goals. The Club are expected to officially confirm the deal on Friday morning. Comment to follow. |
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HISTORY IN THE MAKING
(Thursday 25th January 2007)
Wanderers supporters in the 41,591 attendance at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening were part of the highest attendance Wycombe had played in front of at an opponents ground in the 120 year history of the Club. The previous best was the 30,128 at Ayresome Park for the FA Cup replay with Middlesbrough in January 1975. This is closely followed by 29,337 at Maine Road in April 1999 for the famous Division Two victory over Manchester City. The highest attendance Wanderers have played in front of at a neutral ground was 90,000 for the 1957 FA Amateur Cup final against Bishop Auckland which celebrates its 50th anniversary in April of this year. Wanderers highest attendance for a 'home' match is the 15,500 crowd that attended Loakes Park for the Amateur Cup meeting with St.Albans City in February 1950. |
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CHELSEA 4 WYCOMBE 0
(Tuesday 23rd January 2007)
Wanderers' record breaking run in the 2006/7 League Cup came to a disappointing end at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening. Paul Lambert's side were holding their own until the 22nd minute when a sloppy pass by Tommy Doherty let in Andrei Shevchenko to angle a shot past Ricardo Batista. The same player then made it 2-0 two minutes before the break when he struck home from the left channel. Wanderers best chance to get back into the game came moments before the break when a low ball across the box from Kevin Betsy just failed to get the vital touch from either Tommy Mooney or Jermaine Easter. Stefan Oakes and Russell Martin both caused problems for Petr Cech from free-kicks after the break before a 69th minute goal from Frank Lampard effectively sealed the tie in Chelsea's favour. A stoppage time goal from Lampard completed the scoring to make the aggregate 5-1.
Chelsea 4 Wycombe 0 - report, stats, reaction and pics |
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O'HALLORAN BACK TO VILLA
(Tuesday 23rd January 2007)
Paul Lambert hopes of extending the loan deal of Stephen O'Halloran from Aston Villa were ended on Monday following the recall of the 19 year old by Martin O'Neill. Lambert told the Midweek, "Stephen's definitely not coming back. It's sad for him because it's a massive game and he was in excellent form. He's been that good that you may see him floating about in the Villa team in the next week or two. You've got to respect Aston Villa and Martin O'Neill's wishes because he's his player and he wanted him back. Martin said there is a chance he can come back soon but not right now." O'Halloran, made 11 Football League appearances for Wycombe plus two League Cup appearances against Charlton Athletic and the 1st leg versus Chelsea. |
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BETSY ON TRANSFER TALK
(Tuesday 23nd January 2007)
Kevin Betsy has spoken out about his talked up move from Wycombe during the January transfer window. He told the Midweek, "I've haven't spoken to anyone yet but the Club have told me there is some interest and what they have said is that we'll wait until after the Chelsea game. If Chelsea is my last game, then what a way to go." Betsy says that we wants to focus on the tie at Stamford Bridge at the moment but also said, "Wycombe is a great club but at the end of the day if a League One club or a Championship club show interest it is something I've got to think about because I'm 28 and not getting any younger. The Midweek claims the Club say the only current bid for any of their players remains the one from Romanian side Universitatea Craiova for Jermaine Easter but they were but off by Wanderers' £1m price tag on the striker. |
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CARD SHOW FOR THE BRIDGE
(Monday 22nd January 2007)
Wanderers officials are hoping to pull off a Villa Park style light and dark blue quartered card show at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening. Negotiations have been taking place to allow 6,000 specially printed cards in the 'Shed End' to be placed on the seats prior to the turnstiles opening. It's understood the card will give instructions to display it when the teams enter the pitch. |
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BETSY OFF TO BRISTOL CITY?
(Monday 22nd January 2007)
COTN understands that 'League One' high flyers Bristol City are closing in on the purchase of Wanderers midfielder Kevin Betsy before the transfer window closes at the end of January. The 28 year old, who joined Wanderers in the summer of 2005 on a free from Oldham Athletic, is out of contract with Wycombe at the end of the current season and a fee in the order of £100,000 is being negotiated. Meanwhile, reports in the national press have claims from Jermaine Easter's agent Wayne Elsey that Premiership clubs Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City have been monitoring Wanderers' top scorer. Elsey is quoted as saying, "There is interest in Jermaine from a number of Premiership clubs. I just feel him scoring against Chelsea has brought his obvious talent into a national spotlight. Who knows what could happen if he has a good match at Stamford Bridge." Easter, 25 last week, is contracted with Wycombe until June 2008. |
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SECOND LEG WAITS
(Monday 22nd January 2007)
Wanderers will be in the national spotlight again when the Second Leg of the Carling Cup Semi-Final versus Chelsea takes place on Tuesday evening at Stamford Bridge. The tie is a 42,000 sell-out with Wycombe selling all of their 6,000 allocation in the 'Shed End'. Manager Paul Lambert has said the slightly lethargic performance against Accrington Stanley on Saturday was understandable, adding to the press, "The Chelsea game has not been affecting me, but it might be at the back of the players’ minds, knowing they’ve got a massive game on Tuesday." The tie kicks-off at 7.45pm and in the event of the aggregate scores being level after 90 minutes, then 30 minutes of extra-time will be played. If the aggregate scores still remain level after extra-time, then away goals will count twice. If the scores are still level by this ruling, then the tie will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. |
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COUNCIL MEET ON STADIUM
(Monday 22nd January 2007)
Wycombe Councillors are due to meet on Monday afternoon (22nd January) where a 'Special cabinet Agenda' includes updates on Adams Park being taken out of Green Belt and a proposal to provide a new stadium for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps. According to the agenda an option being considered is a new stadium on the current Sports Centre site. The agenda states, "The option of a stadium on the site needs to be assessed more closely from a planning and deliverability point of view," and adds "If this were not to occur the current traffic and transport issues at the stadium would have to be addressed." The proposals are part of the new 'Wycombe Development Framework' which includes input from an updated 'Core Strategy' that will go to public consultation during February and March 2007.
See www.wycombe.gov.uk for more info
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O'HALLORAN TO STAY?
(Friday 19th January 2007)
Paul Lambert is hoping to extend the loan deal of Stephen O'Halloran from Aston Villa today. The defender's loan deal expires after Saturday's meeting with Accrington Stanley at Adams Park. O'Halloran, who turned 19 in November, originally joined Wanderers on loan at the end of October and has gone on to make 10 Football League appearances plus two significant League Cup appearances against Charlton Athletic and Chelsea. Villa boss Martin O'Neill was at the Chelsea game and is expected to give the thumbs up to another short term loan deal which would allow him to play at Stamford Bridge and beyond. |
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FL AGENTS FEE REPORT
(Thursday 18th January 2007)
Wanderers committed no fees to agents during the period 1 July 2006 to 31 December 2006 according to the latest report issued by the Football League today. Fourteen other clubs in 'League Two' also reported no fees, compared to five in 'League One', while only Colchester United reported no fees to agents in 'The Championship'. The total amount committed by all League clubs during the period was £6.2m compared to £4.4m for the same six month period in 2005, although £5.5m of this was by 'Championship' clubs, with Birmingham City, Stoke City and Sunderland all breaking the £0.5m barrier. MK Dons headed the list in 'League Two', with £55,500 committed to agents in the six month period. Wanderers statistics relate to 9 new player registrations or transfers, 7 updated contracts and 9 loans. Wanderers also paid no fees during the same period in 2005 but committed £24,800 to agents in 2004. Wanderers committed £7,680 to agents fees during the period January to June 2006.
See Football League website for full report |
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PLC NEW AGM DATE
(Thursday 18th January 2007)
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club PLC have informed shareholders that the new date for the Annual General Meeting covering the year ending 30th June 2006 will be Thursday 8th February 2007. This comes after the original date of 7th December 2006 was postponed due to "an unfortunate fundamental error in the wording of Resolution Number Four". This special resolution, which if passed would dis-apply pre-emption rights, has now been dropped from the agenda. A similar resolution was passed at last year's AGM which, in effect, gave the Directors the power to allocate up to 2m £1 shares to new shareholders without first offering them to existing shareholders or making shares available to supporters in general. However, the Directors never took up this option, which expired in November 2006, despite claims that new investors had been lined up. |
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FINES ISSUED BY FA
(Tuesday 16th January 2007)
Paul Lambert and the Club have been fined a total of £1,500 by the FA for incidents relating to the FA Cup Second Round tie at Stockport County on 1st December 2006. The FA issued their verdict on Monday (15th January). Lambert admitted breach of FA Rule E3 (abusive and/or insulting words towards a Match Official) and was fined £500 and "warned as to future conduct". However, the Wycombe boss has avoided a touchline ban which would have confined him to the stands for the Second Leg meeting with Chelsea on Tuesday 23rd January. Meanwhile, the Club admitted breach of FA Rule E20(a) in the same match (failing to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion) and were fined £1,000 and "severely reprimanded". |
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GOLBOURNE RE-SIGNS
(Saturday 13th January 2007)
The Club confirmed on Friday that Reading defender Scott Golbourne has re-signed for the Wanderers on a loan deal lasting until the end of the current season (and including the play-offs if necessary). The 18 year old, who made 20 loan appearances for Wycombe in the first three months of the season, went straight back into the Wanderers side for the visit to Chester on Saturday. He is also allowed to play in the League Cup Second Leg meeting with Chelsea having appeared in earlier rounds for Wycombe. He has been allocated the No.18 shirt made vacant by the departure of Jonny Dixon to Aldershot. |
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MD TO GO FULL-TIME AT WW
(Friday 12th January 2007)
Wanderers Managing Director Steve Hayes has quit his Directorship at Loans.co.uk in order to devote more time at Adams Park according to a report in the Bucks Free Press. Hayes was due to leave Loans in August 2008 but brought the date forward. Hayes told the BFP that he wants to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in and added,"There will be no salary for me. I can't see it now or the year after. I made my money at Loans. This is a different business and I want to take it as far as possible." Hayes, who now has loan notes in the Club totalling £2.869m, will be looking to turn annual losses that hit £1,872m last season into a break even situation within the next four years. The news could also mean that Wanderers will be looking for a new shirt sponsor when loans.co.uk current deal with the Club expires at the end of this season. |
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DIXON FINALLY OFF TO SHOTS
(Thursday 11th January 2007)
Aldershot Town have officially confirmed that Wanderers striker Jonny Dixon has signed for the Conference side for a fee of £6,000. The move means that Dixon played his final game for Wycombe when he came on as late substitute in the League Cup semi-final 1st leg with Chelsea at Adams Park. Dixon, who will be 22 years old on 16th January, will be familiar with The Shots having spent two previous loan spells there. The Shots beat fellow Conference side Grays Athletic for his signature after it was reported that Wanderers had accepted a five figure bid from the Essex club. Jonny Dixon - Player profile |
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WYCOMBE 1 CHELSEA 1
(Wednesday 10th January 2007)
An amazing evening at Adams Park was capped when Jermaine Easter scored an equaliser on 77 minutes, in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, to continue his feat of scoring in every round of the League Cup this season. It was nothing less than Wanderers deserved after dominating the opening stages but going behind in the 36th minute when Wayne Bridge beat Ricardo Batista to a ball on the edge of the box. All is now set-up for the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday 23rd January.
Wycombe 1 Chelsea 1 - report, stats, reaction and pics |
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ONIBUJE SIGNS UNTIL 2008
(Saturday 6th January 2007)
The Club confirmed on Friday that Fola Onibuje had signed a permanent deal with Wycombe that runs until the summer of 2008. The 6'6" striker originally joined Wycombe on an 'emergency loan' on 31st December 2006 from Swindon Town. The move frees up a loan place in Wanderers squad. Under Football League rules a maximum of five loan players can be named in a matchday squad, although there is currently no maximum allowed to be signed during the season. Meanwhile, Third Year Youth Teamer Tom Cadmore has joined Conference South side Yeading on a three month loan move. |
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MK DEFENDER SIGNED
(Friday 5th January 2007)
Wanderers have signed MK Dons defender Leon Crooks for a 'nominal fee' in a deal that runs until the summer of 2009. The 21 year old signed for Wycombe on Friday morning and will go straight into the squad to play Rochdale on Saturday but cannot play against Chelsea in the League Cup semi-final as he is cup-tied. The 6'2" player is a former trainee with 'Franchise' and has clocked up 52 League appearances since making his debut in August 2004. However, he has made just three starts this season, with the most recent back in August 2006. |
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NO DEAL ON MANSFIELD DUO
(Friday 5th January 2007)
Paul Lambert has given up signing Mansfield Town defender Alex Baptiste and midfield teammate Giles Coke because the asking price was beyond his budget. The Wycombe boss confirmed to the Bucks Free Press his interest in the duo but added, "We enquired about them but they (Mansfield) are asking ridiculous money." Lambert's plans to sign Chelsea defender Adrian Pettigrew have also been put on hold due to a injury to the Hackney born youngster. Meanwhile, Lambert could give a League debut to Youth Teamer Lewis Christon in Saturday's home meeting with Rochdale due to injury to Will Antwi and Sam Stockley plus the one match suspension of Mike Williamson. |
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CHELSEA DEFENDER ON LOAN
(Thursday 4th January 2007)
Wanderers are set to sign Chelsea's 20 year old defender Adrian Pettigrew on loan until the end of the season according to reports in the East London Advertiser. The former Chelsea trainee commented to the paper, "I'm really looking forward to the chance of getting some first-team football under my belt. I'm really excited about the whole experience." Pettigrew, who turned 20 in November 2006, is a former England Youth International, who signed pro forms with Chelsea in March 2005 and was top appearance maker for their Reserves in season 2005/6 and captained the side on several occasions too but has yet to make a First Team appearance for Jose Mourinho's side. |
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SUSPENSION UPDATE
(Wednesday 3rd January 2007)
Chelsea will be forced to leave out two key members of their squad for their visit to Adams Park on Wednesday 10th January. Both Ricardo Carvalho and Didier Drogba picked up their fifth domestic bookings of the season in the game against Aston Villa on Tuesday and will serve their one match suspensions for the 1st leg tie. Meanwhile, Wanderers should be clear of suspensions due to yellow cards for the tie at Adams Park. Mike Williamson will serve a one match ban for five yellows in Saturday's game versus Rochdale, while Tommy Mooney, Matt Bloomfield, Kevin Betsy and Sam Stockley (all currently on four yellows) would miss the game at Chester on Saturday 13th January should they reach five this Saturday. Chelsea loanee Anthony Grant is one yellow card away from receiving a two game ban for reaching ten yellows but will be forced to sit out both legs of the semi-final final anyway due to a agreement in his loan deal to Wycombe. |
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TYSON CASH ADDS TO FUNDS
(Tuesday 2nd January 2007)
Wanderers are due to receive £300,000 from Nottingham Forest on Wednesday (3rd January) as the final payment of the transfer fee for Nathan Tyson. The striker completed his move to Forest twelve months ago with Wanderers receiving approximately half of the fee at the time. This latest cash income comes at a time when Wanderers have been linked by BBC online with potential bids for Mansfield Town defender Alex Baptiste and midfield teammate Giles Coke. Both players are 20 years old and out of contract at the end of the current season. |
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BATISTA BACK FROM FULHAM
(Tuesday 2nd January 2007)
Ricardo Batista renewed his loan spell at Wycombe in the New Year's Day fixture with Hereford United but may be recalled again by his club Fulham after their first choice 'keeper Antti Niemi suffered a nasty looking neck injury against Watford. Batista was originally recalled by Fulham at the start of December due to Niemi recovering from a cartilage operation. Initial news on Niemi's latest injury suggests there is no serious damage but Wycombe will be following updates with interest, along with news that Fulham may recall Tony Warner from his loan spell at Leeds United. Meanwhile, Aston Villa loanee Stephen O'Halloran has had his loan spell at Wycombe extended until Saturday 20th January (the maximum for a 'short term' loan). Paul Lambert has also tied up a deal to bring QPR midfielder Tommy Doherty to the Club on a permanent basis until the end of the season. |
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