Though the news of Alex Revell's loan ahead of the transfer closure was first rumoured yesterday evening then followed up by the local press today, it still came as a shock to many supporters.
Especially when it was followed up with a) he didn't want to go; b) he went because we're broke!
If he does well a permanent move is expected to be agreed in the new year.
Anyhow, this is what Sir Geoffrey had to say to www.southendunited.co.uk: "Alex Revell has failed to live up to expectations. He was signed by this football club to deliver which he has not done and that is why he is moving on. Others may fall into the same catagory as we move forward and rebuild the squad."
This isn't the rebuilding we were going to see in the summer along with the transfer window now shut until January, emergecy loan time again?!
Wilson: 'Alex is a good unit and is very mobile.'
Robins boss Danny Wilson had another take on it, speaking to www.swindontownfc.co.uk: "I am delighted to have him with us because he will add strength to the forward line. We feel that Alex is just what we want. He can bring other players into the game and will take a lot of the load of the other strikers."
Wilson insists he is different to another ex-Blue Billy Paytner: "He will run the channels very well for a big lad and is a decent athlete. He will be athreat in both boxes and his ariel presence could be an asset for us. Work-rate is a key factor because if you don't have a work ethic then you've got nothing."
And, of course, the opposite of what the Echo told us this morning: "As soon as we spoke to him he packed his bags and was keen to join us.'
Alex Revell; Blues couldn't afford the dental treatment
While Revell himself told the Echo: "I was told that I had to leave Southend for financial reasons. People can read into whatever they like but there can't be many players who have gone out on loan three days after being in the starting line-up."
Who to believe?
Good luck from everyone at S24 Alex, some of us appreciated what you did at the club. (Though we could have done with more goals......sorry!)
The Revell Files
(Player info and photo supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Revell)