The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 18

THE GUARDIAN Wednesday January 11 1995 Newcastle sell their target-man to Manchester United in a deal which takes Keith Gillespie to St James' Park and substantially raises the British transfer record 18 SPORTS NEWS 1 Things An offer that Keegan could not refuse definitely not be appearing for At Newcastle, observes David Lacey, they appreciate that every man has his price II I I II II II I II -JtlV tM 1 II am JFYI 1 111 II ft I Tb, 1 I 1 II I II WZfi 1 vll ii sl. ii ANDY COLE has gone from Newcastle to Manchester United in a deal worth 7 million and suddenly Alan Shearer, for whom Blackburn Rovers paid Southampton a mere 3.3 million, looks a snip at less than half the price. As for the previous English transfer record of 5 million which brought Chris Sutton, a 21-year-old newly converted centre-half, to Ewood Park six months ago to join Shearer in the attack, this would now appear to be the epitome of sound footballing economics. Between them Shearer and Sutton have already scored 41 goals this season for Kenny Dalglish the same number, coincidentally, that Cole scored last season for Newcastle United. Dalglish is recovering from an appendix operation so it is safe to say that the Blackburn manager was in stitches yesterday when he learned that Alex Ferguson had decided to bring Cole to Old Trafford for 6 million plus the 19-year old Keith Gillespie in part-exchange.

Ferguson has not surprised anybody by setting a new British transfer record. No sooner had Manchester United failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Cup than they let it be known that oodles of cash would be made available to strengthen the side, ideally with English players. But Cole of all people! The choice would have raised fewer eyebrows had Ferguson pounced at the end of last season, after the Newcastle striker had broken a 60-year-old club record. Instead the Manchester United manager has made his move at a time when Cole's qualities are being questioned. He has not scored for nine games.

In fact since returning from a five-match absence to rest sore shins he has added only one goal to the 14 he netted in his opening 17 appearances this season. At least Garry Bir-tles waited until he got to Old Trafford to go broody. Clearly Ferguson is convinced that a change of setting is all it takes for the Cole goal scoring machine to begin functioning normally again. At 23 the player has time on his side and the splendours of Old Traf ford have already brought out the best in Paul Ince and Eric Cantona, both of whom came to United with unsettled backgrounds. Ince and Cantona will be cru cial to the speed with which Cole settles into a United side needing a winning run in the Premiership now if they are to keep pace with Blackburn at the top.

Ince will be a friendly London voice, a soul mate. Cantona, at present negotiating a contract designed to keep the Frenchman at Old Trafford for the rest of his playing days, will take over Peter Beardsley 's role as the foil for Cole's predatory penalty area instincts. Presumably Cole will face Dalgllsh's team at Old Trafford on Sunday week, but he will ii lLm ij jz II mm. i II I mm II WW II 4V ii ii II II -3 I II I II fl I ll fl ir i A i IO A ii i II VJ ml CV I- Maya From Fn Year Viv Andaraon Nottm Forest 250,000 Jul 1967 Brian McCWr Celtic 850,000 Jul 1987 Stow Bruce Norwich E8O0.O0O Dec 1987 Lm Sharp Torquay 185,000 Jun 1988 Jan Latah ton Aberdeen 750,000 Jun 1988 MarfcHaanas Barcelona 1.800.000 Jul 1988 Donaajhy Luton 650.000 Oct 1988 MaMWabb Nottm Forest 1,500,000 Jul 1989 Hfca Phalan Norwich 750,000 Jul 1989 OaryMHatar Middlesbrough 2.300,000 Aug 1989 PauHiwa West Ham 2,000,000 Sep 1989 Oanny Wakaea Southampton 1.200.000 Sep 1989 Ralph KMna Bristol City 170.000 Nov 1988 Dannia Irwwi Oldham 700.000 Jun 1990 Antfrai Kanchatokto Donetsk 650.000 May 1991 PautParkar OPR 2 000.000 Aug 1991 Pa tar Icwmalchal Brondby 650.000 Aug 1991 Nan Dublin Cambridge 1.000,000 Jul 1992 Brie Cantona Leeds 1.200.000 Nov 1992 Ray Kaana Nottm Forest 3.750,000 Jul 1993 David May Blackburn 1.500.000 Jul 1994 Andy Cola Newcastle Jan 1995 'includes 1 million (or Keith Gillespie NlW.m,ri,fVWii they said -then and now "ANDY COLE has now got three years' apprenticeship with Peter Beardsley, who's a master of his trade." Kevin Keegan on Cole, Sept 93 "I will be here for the next three years and so will Andy Cole." Keegan, Oct 93. "The deal was too good to turn down.

Tough decisions have got to be made and if you are scared of making them you shouldn't be in this job. I'm not worried about reactions. I just want to get the right players and spend the money wisely Keegan, yesterday. "I accept that we're losing a great player. But the lad we're getting could be anything." Keegan's instant reaction.

'Gillespie's) possibly the best youngster I've seen the game in the three years since I came back." Keegan considered judgment. "I've heard a lot of nasty things said against him in the last few weeks but he's never been any trouble to me." Keegan (mysteriously) on Cole "It was a big shock because I didn't think Newcastle would sell me to an English club. It's a brilliant move. I'm excited about the things that will hope fully come from it over the next five years." Cole on Cole. "We never thought we could get Andy.

His goalscoring record is unbelievable and hopefully he will get the goals to make us a better team. We started negotiation because Kevin was interested in Keith Gillespie and very keen to have him. At that point we had to reconsider because he's a good young player, but sometimes you have to give something to get something." Alex Ferguson on Cole. "I'm dumbfounded." David Craggs, chairman of Newcastle's 800-stront; Ijnndon supporters club. "Talk to us, Keegan." Disgruntled supporters to their manager.

"I'm in charge, not you." Manager to disgruntled supporters. "I don't want to talk about Andy Cole. If you want to talk about Andy Cole, you go and find him in London." Keegan after his man went AWUL, Oct J3. "Andy was the snazziest dresser in the club, with some fantastic waistcoats." Leroy Rosenior on Cole at Bristol City. "He was a serious young man, a bit withdrawn but very likeable and polite.

One noticed the exceptional pace and electric skills. He was brave, a quick turner. He had a good imagination even then, and was daring, yes that's the word, daring in the penalty area." Dave Sexton on Cole at the h'A School of Excellence. "Kevin would be wasting his time picking up the telephone Alan Smith on rumours of a Newcastle hid for the Crystal I'aiace striker Chris Armstrong Evans lost his temper with Reddy just after he had been presented with the petition. Reddy's complaint and the petition are the only items on today's agenda.

The chief executive, who survived a half-hearted attempt to remove him last month, has declined to comment. But in a letter to some councillors explaining the Reddy incident he admits losing his temper, for which he later apologised. Evans has been in trouble before. In the most serious of a catalogue of incidents, he received a first and final warning over an allegedly unauthorised 53,000 loan. The setting up of the League of Wales has also brought problems.

Three clubs that refused to join the league Colwyn Bay, Caernarfon and Newport have brought a claim for loss of business due to be heard in the high court in March. As the chief executive will he needed as the FAW's chief witness, can it afford to sack him? Caution is also being urged in view of July's elections, when the council might be swept away on a tide of dissatisfaction. Manchester united at St James Park this Sunday. Nor will Gillespie. "We've spoken to Kevin Keegan and agreed that it would not be fair on the two players, said Ferguson.

It might also prevent an even angrier demonstration by New castle United supporters, who have been sharply reminded that although Keegan and his chairman Sir John Hall may talk as if St James' Park is the hub of the universe, there are still certain offers they cannot refuse. Cole had his price, just like Chris Waddle and Paul Gascoigne before him. Keegan might want Newcas tle's faithful to be patient, but the reality is that by selling Cole at this point he has admit ted that the league title is beyond his side this season. The principal reason for this, of I course, is that Cole goals have dried up. Indeed Keegan may have made a cuter move than Fergu son, but the Geordies will lose what is left of their patience with him should another big name not arrive more or less immediately, especially if New castle go out of the FA Cup in next Wednesday's replay at Blackburn.

Whichever player Newcastle opt to buy, his price will virtu ally have been fixed by the size of Coles transfer. QPRs Les Ferdinand has a longer Pre mier League pedigree than Not tingham Forest's Stan Colly-more, in whom Ferguson was rumoured to be interested, but Ferdinand is four years older than the Forest striker, who is coming up to 24. Whatever happens it will be surprising if the domestic transfer record stands for long. Ferguson broke it because he desperately needed English tal ent for what he hopes will be another tilt at the European Cup next season, Manchester United having been stymied by Uefa's restrictions on foreign players. Keegan may have to break it again to keep faith with the Newcastle faithful.

Dalglish may break it as a matter of course. He is, after all, now trailing Ferguson in the transfer market by 30 million to 27 million. One trusts that Fer-gie has already had his appendix out. Joe Royle last night made another bid for Mark Hughes. Manchester United had rejected the Everton manager's two previous offers for the Welsh striker, but yesterday he was quoted a price of 2.5 mil lion on the high side for a 32 year-old forward.

reputations. Had Brian lough, for instance, not stuck to a derisory offer of 500,000, Cole could have spared Nottingham Forest relegation in 1993, indeed extended England's longest managerial reign. Clough would not go higher to bring Cole back to the city of his birth. But then, as Clough once disarm-ingly admitted, he was never the best judge of a striker. Many Arsenal fans think the same of George Graham, who gave the boy signed on his 14th birthday as an asso Results SOCCOT BNDSLEIOH LKAOUB First Division Burnley Chdrlton TMffd Division (0)O 110)1 Mddley '3 90 in a (0) 1 Smart 44 rrebtole 85 fry 81 6 37? AUTO WINDSCRCENS SHIBLO Quartarflnats SouNMrn taction aiiiiiHsni (I) HnrMDll Ctantjge 6 Lyno 45 Wrfrd 68 (pen) Otto 12 OrlanttO) 0 ami (0) 1.381 (aet ii al 90mm.

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Keegan. infuriated, left him out. Cole went missing and Newcastle went out. KEVIN KEEGAN once famously pronounced that Andy Cole "could be the answer to England's In that case, why are the player's exalted talents being lost to the passionate North-east corner of the country? Newcastle fans will not be the first to ponder the background to The One Who Got Plymouth sued by suspended Shitton for breach of contract AW cannot escape Reddy's attack by jettisoning Evans and Cole is over unless Terry business for a player untried at the top level," says Graham. Keegan trailed Cole for six months, making three offers, before Bristol City made a net profit of some 800.000 on the player in only eight months.

It was good business or so it seemed. The struggling First Division club, under a different board from now, let the striker go without making provision for a cut of any bigger Cole deal. Had City insisted on 25 per cent of any profit they would now be due tertotball MSA) Boslon 114 Washington 101, Phoenin 119. Milwaukee 102. UUh 106.

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driving a Mitsubishi, was fastest tn tho day 222-milc leg Irom Chinguetti with Finland a An Vaianen taking second place in a Citroen threo minutes and 34 seconds behind Vatanen was leading on Monday when a broken radiator coat him his chance ol a litth Idle and he had to spend the night stranded in the desert The defending champion Pierre Lartigue. who look the overall lead trom Vatanen, is now favourito to retain his litlo He drovo cautiously lo end the stago litth place in his Citroen Buddies no more the lethal ciate schoolboy only one senior start, in the 1991 Charity Shield, and a brief substitute outing in the league in 1990. If the former Manchester United manager Dave Sexton, as supervisor of Cole at the FA's School of Excellence, Keegan and now Alex Ferguson have had few reservations about Cole, then Graham and his Arsenal coaches did. They questioned his attitude and work rate off the ball and, though noting his goals, they noted a host of misses too. Sacand Division Of KMI 1) 1 Campbell 2 448 (1) I Donaldson 69 Mathieson 81 Third Division Thorburn i 430 Crfledunian 1 Montruse Alloa East Stirling aM VMMUl COMnaaNCl Fambor ough Dnrar 0 UNWONB LBMtMi Premier Colwyn Bay 1 hnowsley 1 Bar row Uroylsden 3 Fleetwood 0 Lancaster BUBO Kingstonian 3.

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Arsenal fans have been asking the same for years, particularly in these barren times at Highbury. Quite apart from saving England Terry Venables has yet to offer Cole more than a cap the 23-year-old player's quicksilver skills and rapier-like finishing could have spared other Cup final will be out for up to a month, starting with tonight's Coca Cola Cup quarter final at Anfield against an unchanged Liverpool side. If Graham problems be come unbearable he will find some welcoming chairmen lower in the league. The Second Division's bottom club Chester City have parted company with Mike Pejic after seven months and put his assistant Kevin Rat-cliffe in temporary control. There is still a vacancy at Third Division Rochdale, where Sammy Mcllroy turned down their offer of a job in favour of staying with Maccles field.

Struggling Northampton Town have got their man. however. Ian Atkins succeeding the sacked John Barnwell. Atkins's former club Doncas ter sold their striker O'Neill Donaldson to Sheffield Wednesday for 50,000, and Derby agreed to buy the Torquay midfielder Paul Trollope for 100,000. Gerry Francis is trying to persuade his homesick striker Nicky Barmby to stay at Tot tenham.

The England Under-21 player wants to move closer to his family in the north but his manager said: It is purely a domestic situation and I am doing all I can to keep him." Mark AS IF the atmosphere at Plymouth Argyle was not sour enough, Peter Shilton issued a writ against the club yesterday seeking damages for breach of contract. The 125.000a year manager was suspended last week on full pay after the club demanded that he settle an outstanding 50,000 tax bill on his 1992 sign ing-on fee. Shilton, who has 18 months to run on his contract, was due to attend a meeting with three Plymouth directors tomorrow to discuss the situation further. His solicitor Mike Morrison described the suspension as a panic measure. "The club is now saying that Peter was suspended pending a disciplinary inquiry.

Why didn't they say that at the time?" The Plymouth chairman Dan McCauley said: "We have received the writ. Obviously they are on the defensive; we are not panicking." The Arsenal manager George Graham has problems of a different nature after his striker Alan Smith went into hospital Tor a cartilage operation. The scorer of the only goal in last year's European Cup Winners' Qrahama Uoyd PUBLIC support for Alun Evans has been conspicuous by its absence, but one Football Association of Wales councillor has declared that the chief executive is "In no danger" when the council meets a challenge to its authority today. The FAW's 26 councillors will meet in emergency session at Caersws today to consider Evans's outburst of "foul and abusive language" in a recent altercation with the Merthyr chairman John Reddy. "This is not a personal vendetta against Alun Evans," said Reddy.

"It's a vendetta against the inefficient way Welsh football is being run." Reddy circulated a petition calling for a vote of no confidence in the council after the delay in publishing an independent report into the FAW's structure and management. Although the FAW received the report in September it was not circulated to the clubs until a fortnight before Christmas because, Evans said, "the copyright was retained by the management.