Eastwood Not Set For Pride Park

Eastwood, who has scored an incredible 49 goals in 75 starts for the Blues, was subject to a bid from fellow Championship club the Rams, however Ron Martin has stuck to his word that he would not sell Eastwood before the start of the season by rejecting the offer.

Among the delighted fans, players and management team at Southend United about the decision, Derby County boss Billy Davies was not so pleased.

Davies was quoted as saying: “We made two offers in the last few weeks and the second was rejected point blank last week.”

“Southend said Eastwood was not for sale and they didn't wish to negotiate with us or anyone else.” A quote that will further show both Ron Martin's and Steve Tilson's intentions about the striker, and increase their already mounting reputations on good terms with the Shrimpers faithful.

Davies will not be coming back. At least not until the next transfer window in December as it seems as though he felt Southend were being unreasonable about their reluctance to sell the former Grays frontman. Davies explained: “We'll continue to monitor the situation but at £1million we've already gone to the maximum we think is right for a player who's not played in the Championship before.”

Onto other news, and it appears that Steve Tilson's attempt to bolster his squad ahead of the forthcoming campaign have again been thwarted. The 38-year-old's 100k bid for Paul Hayes of Barnsley was almost considered as offensive by Tykes manager Andy Ritchie, who obviously turned his nose up at the offer.

It is no real surprise the offer was turned away. Barnsley paid £150,000 for the Dagenham-born front-runner following an impressive 2004/05 season, where the 22-year-old scored 20 goals in 45 starts and was in with Freddy Eastwood at the top of the scorers chart.

That is precisely the reason Tilson would have wanted to link the two together, and Hayes certainly would have considered the move – Championship football – exactly what he has at Barnsley except closer to home.

However considering the offer was 50k less than what Barnsley paid just over a year ago and that Hayes has since played a major part in Barnsley's rise to the Championship last term, the offer was never likely to be considered seriously. Ritchie was quick to echo this, stating: “Southend's offer does not even match what we paid for him. I don't know where they're coming from.”

“It would have to be a massively-improved substantial offer and even then we would try to keep him.”

So, it appears that Freddy Eastwood is going nowhere which is excellent news for everyone connected with Southend United Football Club, but in the meantime, neither is Paul Hayes, which isn't such great news.

*A mixture of Youth and Reserve team players as well as First team players lost 1-0 to Canvey Island yesterday in front of 848 spectators following a last minute goal from Nicky Rugg*

Adam Duffill
www.thelittlegazette.com