Brighton to drink to Eastwood?

Last updated : 03 June 2005 By Matt Donohue

Freddy Eastwood
Eastwood celebrates another strike for the Shrimpers
For those who have not seen the Coca Cola idea of fan entering a draw to win £250,000 for the club they support the draw was made and Brighton received their cheque at Saturday’s playoff final. Whilst manager Mark McGhee joked about finally having a budget to spend on players it looks as if he is on the look out for a striker.

Unfortunately it has today been rumoured by Sky Sports’ tabloid newspaper section that the Seagulls are tracking Southend’s Freddy Eastwood along with Hartlepool’s Adam Boyd. Eastwood, who scored the first goal in the Shrimpers historic playoff victory last Saturday, has been pivotal to the Blues success and it would be gutting for supporters to see Eastwood leave.

However I would urge fellow supporters not to worry due to story being given only one line on the Sky Sports website. Whilst this suggests the rumour is rather insignificant it is also the case that Southend supremo, Ron Martin, is not interested in selling Eastwood as he wants the club to progress. In fact Martin even went to the length of phoning into Soccer AM, to alleviate Southend fans, which were on the show, of any fears that Eastwood may be leaving.

In addition to this, Eastwood does not want to leave the club due to its locality and the fact that he has enjoyed the club since joining in October.

Freddy smashes home
Freddy smashes in from close range send the Blues one nil up
"I would have stayed with Southend even if we hadn’t have gone up. I enjoy it here and it’s my local team too which means a lot as well. I want to stay – I keep on saying it – but I don’t want to go elsewhere and I will be back with the club for pre-season training after a holiday in a Disneyworld with my kids," Eastwood told the Echo after Saturday’s win.

Manager Tilson attempted to pre-empt any future rumours. "He’s not for sale and winning promotion will help us keep hold of him, and he still has another two years on his contract," commented the Blues chief.

Although it is not expected that Eastwood will leave this summer it remains a mystery as to what Brighton will spend the £250,000 they won from Coca-Cola.

By Matt Donohue
www.thelittlegazette.com