Not what you want to see before tucking into the turkey
Bazza, Bazza, Bazza. When did he ever know when to keep quiet, and certainly not where transfer deals are concerened, or maybe looking to join another club himself.
The negotiation process in most transfers is a game of poker, and obviouly League One Peterborough would like a few bob for midfielder Josh Simpson, while Shrimpers supremo Ron Martin doesn't want to give them a penny, mainly because it's only pennies he owns.
The Posh director of football, ex-manager, Judas, and any other adjective you would like to add, one Barry Fry, placed on record Tuesday that 'Southend pulled out of a deal to sign Josh Simpson on a permanent basis.'
Not so, say the club. Bazza is telling porkies; don't laugh, but let's face it there's not much between Ron and fat Barry, and we have been here before with the Simon Francis transfer saga last season.
A club 'spokesman' told www.echo-news.co.uk: "Southend United does not conduct its transfer negotiations in public but can confirm that we will continue to keep a dialogue open with Peterborough United regarding Josh Simpson. Manager Paul Sturrock is currently taking into account where best he might utilise the resources available to him during January transfer window, by considering a number of new players."
It's all a game, and whatever you think of him Bazza is a bit of a master at this one, then again, Ron's no shrinking violet himself.
Should be fun, but with poor Simmo in the middle, and maybe the Shrimpers faithful losing a very influential player this season, possibily to a fourth tier rival.
Simmo in the middle of two big beasts, one bigger than the other
The rumours are that an injured Simpson, who has made 24 appearances for Southend, scoring twice, has already returned to London Road as he won't be fit by the end of his loan on January 4th anyway, an ankle problem picked up in the 2-0 win at Cheltenham, even if the games fight off the adverse weather.
However, he couldn't have made it clearer that he would like to stay a Shrimper telling the Echo: "Staying at Southend is definitely a positive option for me and I know the two clubs are talking about trying to make it happen. Southend have also spoken to my agent and I would like to stay here for longer because I've been enjoying it."
The Simpson Files
| Full name | Joshua Richard Simpson[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 March 1987 (1987-03-06) [2] | ||
| Place of birth | Harlow, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Southend United (on loan from Peterborough United) | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004-2006 | Cambridge City | 54 | (4) |
| 2006-2007 | Cambridge United | 19 | (0) |
| 2007-2008 | Cambridge City | 41 | (6) |
| 2008-2010 | Histon | 50 | (12) |
| 2009 | → Peterborough United (loan) | 3 | (2) |
| 2010- | Peterborough United | 18 | (0) |
| 2010- | → Southend United (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| England C | 2 | (1) | |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:36, 19 October 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 01:05, 27 January 2010 (UTC) | |||
(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Simpson_(English_footballer)
The original article, S24 first on the case:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/
will_simmo_stay_a_shrimper_610450/index.shtml
Whoops, beat the local media again:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/barry_fry_
southend_united_pulled_out_of_a_deal_to_sign_josh_simpson_
on_a_permanent_basis_610588/index.shtml