Is he definitely wors, or has it gone tits up cos the medical has uncovered his chronic ingrowing bunnions ?

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Answers

Anxious pensioner.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Soccernet says he is now a Newcastle United player having passed a medical on Monday morning.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Should have had another look at Teletext before I set this away, it's there as well now, but ta anyway Al.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Just said on Radio Leicester that he is being unveiled at a press conferance at SJP later today

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

From the Mirror

£5M JENAS SIGNS FOR TOON
By Kevin Lynch

England under-19 starlet Jermaine Jenas today passed a medical to complete his £5 million move from Nottingham Forest to Newcastle.

The 18-year-old agreed terms with Newcastle on Friday evening and was due to be officially unveiled this afternoon.

Widely regarded as one of English football's hottest properties, Jenas became one of the youngest players to skipper a Football League club when he captained Forest to a 2-1 win over Watford in December, and has notched up 31 appearances this season, scoring four goals.

Forest have been forced to cash in on their star player by crippling debts that have led the League to ban the club from registering new players.

Speaking on today's transfer, United chairman Freddy Shepherd said: "We are delighted to have secured the services of Jermaine Jenas and in doing so, I would like to place on record my thanks to Nottingham Forest's Nigel Doughty, who, whilst sitting on Concorde about to fly to New York (crippling debts and flights on Concorde...hmmm), made a telephone handshake with me to confirm the deal, and subsequently kept to his word despite coming under pressure from another club [Manure?].

"Nigel's conduct throughout the negotiations has been exemplary and it's very pleasing to note that such integrity still exists in the game. He is a very genuine man and I wish his club all the best for the future."

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Shepherd's learning. He must have taken courses in PR. He almost appears magnanimous, whilst indirectly boasting about the signing coup and sticking the boot in re the 'other' club's failed underhand tactics.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

He's got a point though...fair play to the forest chairman...he could've tried to make a last minute auction of it (and it might've been understandable in their financial predicament!) but he didn't....

One up for integrity!

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

It does seem to be a very honourable stance by the Forest man, especially given the financial problems of the club. I wonder what the Forest fans feel though , if they knew they could have possible squeezed another 500,000 out of it? And being really cynical, perhaps it's this sort of 'naive' integrity that has lead Forest into their financial situation?

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

I don't think flights on Concorde help their situation either

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

I used to work with Nigel Doughty at standrad Chartered Bank a few years ago. He is now head of Doughty Hanson Private Equity which controls Forest and also happens to own Umbro amongst other things.

I don't think he would have been gowing to NYC on Forest business or on Forest expenses.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

I heard the other club(s) only wanted to pay in installments or at the end of the season. Obviously we would like to have put it off as well, but given the situation with Little Kevin, FS probably felt he had to do something to strengthen the team and keep us in contention. All round, well done FS and well done to ND. Not to mention YBR who no doubt had a fair bit of persuading to do as well. D'ya suppose JJ will be at KP the neet??

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

There was a lot of goodwill about the lad coming to us rather than to Leeds or Man U. They like the lad, seen him grow up, and want to do the best for him as well as make a few bob out of the deal. The feeling was they'd advised him he'd struggle to get a game at Man U, and that Leeds wasn't a place to go.

Freddie's not stupid and maybe he knows that Forest may have another kid that we may want someday and saying the right things now will be for the long term good. Maybe Robson's morals are even rubbing off on him !

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

In today's press conference Robson was enthusing as usual but was bemoaning the fcat that he probably wouldn't see the best of Jenas in his time at the club. He also said that Jenas was for now as well as for the future, so the last week could have been a nice cameo role for Jamie before he leaves.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

...apparently Preston are keen to sign McClen - who btw is out of contract at the end of the season.

I would like to highly commend the business ethics of Nottingham Forest and their Chairman - and blow a big raspberry to the PL scumbags who tried to worm in on yet another deal. What goes around comes around.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Concorde may be expensive but doesn't it mean you don't get jet lag and therefore work much better. What does the guy value his time at ?

+ its fun.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

JJ's words at the Press Conference at SJP today:

"Every player dreams of playing at the highest level and there is no better place to play at the moment," Jenas said. "They don't come bigger than Newcastle and I'm delighted to be part of it.

"It's exciting that Newcastle are second in the Premiership at the minute and hopefully I can be part of winning things with them. It's a dream to be coming to a club as big as Newcastle."

Meanwhile, Robson could hardly contain his delight at securing the services of the England Under-19 skipper. "We are delighted," Robson said. "He is a player for now and for the future, he's a big long- term investment.

"He's come to a good school and a team with some very experienced players. But we also have 14 players at the club who are 22 or under so he is coming into a large group of young players and we see him as part of the long-term situation at the club.

"He's got everything but there is a lot more to come from him. He's not the finished article yet. We're confident in what we've bought to St James' Park. He's going to be a top-class player and in my opinion we have bought a real steal.

"I would have no hesitation in playing him in the first-team, he goes straight into the squad for Saturday. He is ready."

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002