The news wires this afternoon report a statement from NUFC regarding the proposed sale of DF to Everton, saying:-

"Everton have now been informed that the player was not able to agree the terms of his release from Newcastle United and that the transfer was off."

Interesting! I'm delighted that the Club have stood firm against his obscene financial demands, but I'll be surprised if this is the last we'll hear about this particular move.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

Answers

The latest 'utterings' in an increasingly acrimonious situation between DF, his Agent and the Toon.

Duncan Ferguson has vowed to fight for his place at Newcastle after his #3.75million move back to Everton collapsed.
A statement from the Goodison Park club today said: "Everton have now been informed that the player was not able to agree the terms of his release from Newcastle United and that the transfer was off."
Ferguson's agent, Dennis Roach, hit out at what he claims has been poor treatment of the player by Newcastle. "Freddy Shepherd and the Board have not given an inch. They feel that Ferguson has not given them value for money in his time there and they were determined that he would not get a penny to move even if it meant him staying at St James' Park and seeing out his contract".
Talk of Duncan wanting #1million is rubbish. We didn't instigate the transfer and Duncan knew nothing about it. He had a four-year contract and didn't want to leave. He's just bought a plot of land to build a house next door to Alan Shearer, his wife's just had a baby and he was more than happy to stay at the club. If Newcastle were so desperate to get rid of him and wanted him to leave, they should have sat down and talked about the situation, there should have been some gesture from the Board."
The transfer has foundered because Newcastle will not give Ferguson any compensation for the remaining three years of his contract. That has led to the former international digging his heels in and opting to stay at the club.
Roach added: "Everton is the only club that Duncan would have left Newcastle for. And it is his decision now to stay at Newcastle. He's upset but he has told me he aims to prove them wrong and make them select him in the side." Ferguson joined Newcastle from Everton less than two years ago in a deal which Goodison Park boss Walter Smith claimed was done behind his back by former Chairman, Peter Johnson. But the injury-plagued striker will face a battle to win his place back at Newcastle, with boss Bobby Robson expected to start the season with Alan Shearer and summer signing Carl Cort in attack.
"I've discussed all the possible problems with Duncan, but he has decided he will stay," said Roach. "Duncan feels he didn't ask for a transfer, had agreed to a lesser contract with Everton, and that he wasn't being treated right. Newcastle have handled this deal poorly. He's virtually been accused of being greedy over this. I doubt he'll be able to forget what has been said about him but sometimes you have to put things behind you and get on with life".
"It comes to something that when you turn up for training one day and the manager asks you why you are not down at Everton for a medical. That happened 10 days ago when a previous medical was arranged. Nobody had told him about it."
Everton waited in vain for Ferguson to arrive for another planned medical on Tuesday and were then told the deal would not take place. Manager Walter Smith said: "Having agreed a deal with both parties on Friday, we were very hopeful of signing Duncan, and are extremely disappointed that the deal will now not proceed."
When all the dust has settled, Ferguson will have to come to terms with playing for a manager who has been planning a new-look strike partnership.
Roach added: "Duncan feels he can put anyone out of the side and he has told me he will fight for his place. People forget that Duncan and Alan Shearer turned things round last season at Newcastle. Duncan scored the goal of the season against Manchester United and had a good run of games in the side and the fans were on his side. He'll start the season now with Newcastle as there are no other offers around."

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

This has really become a soap opera. Wonder if we'll ever know what really happened.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

I think the most likely scenario was basically Dunc was more than happy to stay here. Nice wages, good club+fans and his 'buddy' Al his main strike partner. Interesting to hear hes bought land beside Als house. Ok Everton sounded good, his ol' favourite and all that,50-50 etc. The board though seem to have done it all behind his back which would piss anyone off who had made plans to stay . F**k them he thinks, if theyre going to do that, they can pay up or shut up. Good, theyve shut up now so I can get on with things again...... Looks like hes staying and thats the best news ive heard for a long time. As i said before, ok hes shit expensive and its reasonable to presume hell be fit for 50%of the season. But the alternative is to sell him at a loss of 4 million, buy a new player who will no doubt cost 4-7 milllion, be on 25-30k per week and only play half the games anyway due to competition for places. And with our luck the new player will be shit anyway and be sold at a huge loss. All hypothetical but u know wat i mean ;-) Great news, great news.......

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

hmm anyone know why my paragraph spaces etc disappear when posting????

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

You didn't put in paragraph tags? Sometimes the system puts them in for you if you hit the spacebar twice, but it's not consistent. Just put less-than-sign P greater-than-sign between each paragraph and you'll be set

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

You can just bet that the residents of Darras Hall will REALLY appreciate Druncan's executive pigeon crees being built in their midst!!

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

I hope the crowd at SJP don't give him any stick. This isn't his fault.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

I don't think so Dougal - he's a big favourite, and after this spat with the Board could well be an even firmer favourite!

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

It's all about the money. The rest is just padding. Cold facts are that DF was prepared to accept less astronomical wages for doing at Everton what he is already overpaid for doing at SJP, in return for a juicy Geordie sweetener to help ease the financial 'plight' he was being forced into. Hopefully he's genuine about wanting to earn his place in the team. I'm glad he's staying. But you won't catch my heart bleeding just cos Dunc and his agent have missed out on another fat wedge of my money for precisely nowt.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

This isn't over yet....this tosser of an agent sounds like he's still playing the game....talk of Ferguson staying to see out his contract etc but not being happy with the board blah blah blah, sounds like he's trying to bluff the board into thinking they're onto a loser....so that they'll be desperate to unload him....

As I've said before, I want him to stay, I really think he brings something to the team...I want him to stay more now so that his tosser of an agent gets NOTHING...

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

>> "there should have been some gesture from the Board" - I think there was ... of the two fingered variety ;~)

>>"Duncan feels he can put anyone out of the side" - hmmm ... watch yourselves in training lads!

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000