Sorry if someone else has pointed this out, but we haven't announced the purchase of Bellamy to the listing authority which, if we had actually bought him, we would have been bound to do. This adds some credibility to the rumours that the Chairmen of both clubs are discussing a swap deal. Am checking both Reuters and the Financial Services Authority for the plc's announcement.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

Answers

I've not seen anything on it either...

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

So are we to assume we are swapping one Warren Barton with one Marcellino thrown into the bargain, for Bellamy? No? Okay what are we to assume?

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

Difficult question, DB - Because of their ages, it's hard to see past Lee and Barton, but there are all sorts of possibilities - I mean, we have too many defenders now...

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

NUFC.com are reporting that 'their sources' reckon the Bellamy fee is actually £6.5 million - precisely what Coventry paid Norwich - rather than the £6 million widely quoted.

They add that the confusion over the fee may well relate to the possibility of a cash + player swap being a possible outcome of current discussions between the respective Chairmen.

I wonder who Coventry might be interested in taking, and who we would consider releasing? I read somewhere that Strachan wants to get some experience into the team. If we'd had the good sense to get Stephen Glass under contract, we may have been able to offer him as a £1-1.5 million makeweight. However, assuming they are unlikely to have any interest in Marcelinho, Barton is the only other one who readily springs to mind. I couldn't see Rob Lee going anywhere at this stage.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001

We could up the Bellamy fee to £8million and throw in Marcy

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2001