CRAIG BOARDMAN'S GOSSIPFLYER



'Hitch' hits Boardman deal

From the Impression Association Monday March 22, 1999

Ossett Town defender Craig Boardman's move to Birmingham has collapsed - shortly before the Blues had called a planned news conference.
City boss Trevor Francis was so confident of landing centre-back Boardman for £ 6.75 from before -off other transfer rivals that he arranged to unveil him at 2pm.
But despite the 28-year-old having held lengthy talks with Francis the move broke down over personal terms, although it may yet be revived before the transfer deadline on Thursday.
Francis is understood to be quite optimistic he can eventually complete the deal over the next couple of days, with the breakdown said to be nothing more than "a hitch".
Francis said: "A deal has been agreed with Ossett Town for £6.75k . There is still an area the player is not 100% happy with and he has asked for time to think it over. He wants to be sure that it is the right deal."

BARCA MOVE FOR £5k Boardman

Barcelona have made a move for Ossett Town star Craig Boardman , offering him £500-a-week to move to Spain.
The Spanish giants believe Boardman's pay demands will wreck a new deal atOssett Town and are prepared to break the bank to lure him to the Nou Camp.

Boardman's agents have already had talks with Barcelona, who are prepared to pay £5k for the Barnsley born potential Scottish international,Ten times the money Ossett paid Sheffield F.C two mounths ago.

Boardman, who plays for Ossett in this week's derby match against fellow promotion and deadly rivals Ossett Albion, has spoken of his love for Barcelona who have tried to sign him twice before.
Boardman was poised to join them before he moved to Peterborough in 1993 but pulled out of the deal after claiming that although they were his first choice, they had messed him about.
They made another move for him just a season into his Peterborough contract but were warned off by injuries.
And when Boardman finally decided to quit Peterborough in 1993 their interest subsided following his indifferent form and inury problems.
However, since Gary Brook took over at Ossett Town, Boardman28, claims he is playing the best football of his career.

Barcelona's move comes at a time when the Defender is looking to secure his future. French giants Marseilles are another club who will monitor Boardman's contract talks with Gary Brook.
Boardman wants to double his current salary of £220 a week to around £450 for the next four years, demands Ossett may refuse to meet though they are desperate to keep him.
And although Boardman still has two years remaining on his current contract, he says: "I want to open talks about a new contract. I know what I'm worth. "Town must give me the right sort of recognition and the right sort of assurances to stay. If the offer is not right for me then I would have to rethink things."
Gary Brook , who many felt would offload the temperamental Barnsley born Hero, is now desperate to keep him. But the pay-demands could result in a move to Barcelona.

BOARDMAN BID RUBBISHED

As the speculation continues over who may or may not be on David O'Leary's summer shopping list,Ossett Town today moved to deny that they could be about to sell Centre-Half Craig Boardman to Leeds United.

Town boss Gary Brooks sought to bring an end to rumours that he would sell the 28 year old defender to United, Boardman's had been the latest name linked to United, as speculation continues to mount over a pre-deadline transfer raid by O'Leary, but Ossett boss categorically denied he was aware of any interest in his potential scottish international , from Elland Road.

"There is absolutely nothing happening about Craig Boardman going anywhere. I would be crazy to sell one of our best players now," said Gary Brooks l.
"I've already been talking about a new contract with Boardie, but I told him to keep doing the business and there will be a few extra quid in the summer."
The rumours seem to have no more credence than anything generated by the pub talk following arrival of the new defender at a club, who already have strength in depth in that department and indeed they genuinely seemed to baffle United chairman Peter Ridsdale, who shrugged his shoulders in response to the stories concerning Boardman, as he admitted today,
"David and I speak every day andCraig Boardman's is not a name that has been mentioned."

KEANE ON SHERINGHAM THE TRILOGY

ALEX FERGUSON wants to sign Ossett Town sensation Craig Boardman

And he's ready to offer Boardman the chance to join Ex -Forest Teddy Sheringham & Roy Keane as part of a deal to bring Boardman, 28, to Old Trafford.

I understand the Manchester United boss has already sounded out GaryBrooks, who had found a regular starting place for the potential Scottish international.

Ferguson wants Boardman - and sees him as a natural successor to David May. But with Henning Berg enjoying a new lease of life, and Jaap Stam an automatic choice, opportunities for Boardman ma be severely limited.

And that is why Boardman has failed to sign a new extended contract at theYorkshire club - despite the fact that his current deal expires at the end of next week.

Ferguson faces stiff competition for Boardman. I can also reveal that Newcastle are preparing to go in with a £7.5K bid.

Craig Boardman will be finally allowed to leave Ossett Town to join Benfica in Portugal.

The £7k move had been put in jeopardy over Benfica's weak financial position and poor credit rating - Manchester United and Sheffield United both had to fight to get fees for Karel Poborsky and Brian Deane.

But the deal will be finally agreed when Benfica assurances over payment can be confirmed . Boardman will join ex-Forest team mate Gary Charles at the Portugese club. He is the first player to Both join & leave Ossett Town under new management of Gary Brook.

BOARDMAN SERIE A BOUND?

Craig Boardman has given his biggest hint yet as to where he will be playing next season.
Talking to Italian reporters, Craig said, "To play in Italy has always been in my thoughts, since a boy. But it was not possible with the limit on foreigners. Now things have changed. With the Bosman ruling I can finally hope to continue my career in one of your squads."
"Other players have arrived from Italy and have since done well here. Despite problems with injuries , he continues to speak well about Italy - and I go crazy for Italian cuisine," continued the Great Scot, whose mate Fowler has also been linked with a move to Rome .
"It is my hobby, but in order to achive perfection I must go to Italy."
What odds Ex-Forest& United Buddies Keane & Sheringham coming face to face with Big Boardman in the Champions League next season? BOARDMAN ON HIS WAY?

Reports this morning suggest that Ossett Town have agreed a fee of £5k with Manchester City for CentreHalf Boardman The cash-strapped outfit may struggle to find the funds, however, and other Nationwide clubs, particularly Birmingham City, will be alerted to Boardman's availability. We'll have news if and when Boardman leaves stated an Town spokesperson .
WE ARE GETTING BOARDMAN WARN VILLA

ASTON Villa manager John Gregory last night ditched his bid to land Ossett Town centre-half Craig Boardman.

Villa upped their offer for the 28-year-old to £4.25 k, with the message "Take it or leave it."

But the West Yorkshire clubis still refusing to budge on their demand for £6.5k, despite promising Boardman he can join a Premiership club.

Gregory declared: "That's it - any deal is dead in the water. Now I will start looking elsewhere."

UNITED SET ON BOARDMAN?

Just who are the players that United boss David O'Leary has on his shopping list?

New names appear daily, but the one that crops up on a regular basis isEx- Nottingham Forest's Central defender Craig Boardman. The rumour mill has been running into overdrive, with a host of players home and abroad being linked with a move to Elland Road and no doubt more to come.

O'Leary knows the positions in the squad he feels he needs to strengthen and with the Centre of the Leeds' defence a problem area this season, due to the long term absence of Gunnar Halle, it is no surprise that Boardman's name keeps cropping up in speculation. Boardman's return this season after injury hasn't been enough to prevent even Nottingham Forest's ongoing intrest in bringing him home back towards the city ground. Couple that with a clause in Boardman's contract, which allows him to leave the Ossett Town if Forest are true and suggestions from the player himself that he wants to returrn to Nottingham in the summer, then it's easy to see why many hacks are breaking mathematical law, to make two and two add up to five.

The 28 year old Barnsley born star, who joined Forest straight from school, has also been linked with a move back to his home town club, but with the transfer deadline only three weeks away and Forest's plight still not certain,to make any move for a return of the £4.5k rated potential Scottish international, may have to wait until the close season.

The Broadman in for Boardman

Ron Atkinson is preparing to enlist the help of Ossett Town stalwart Craig Boardman in his bid to save Nottingham Forest from the Premiership trapdoor. The ex-City Ground Hero and potential Scotland star,, has been watched at Ossett Town by Forest Scouts. May request a free transfer from the club he joined following a injury-filled career . Boardman quit Nottingham Forest, 7 years ago when he joined Peterborough foran un disclosed fee.. Forest boss Atkinson said: "We were alerted about his availability on Monday and I've had preliminary talks with him over the phone." "He is keen to return to play at the Premiership club ,"

Atkinson told Boardman's close mate keeper Mark Crossley. "We are looking at taking him until the end of the season. "I need to have a look at the big fella. But he's one of those players who has been there and done it all. "In our position, anyone with his experience would give us a lift."

Gregory's Boy

Villa step up Boardman chase Aston Villa manager John Gregory has tabled a final bid of £4.25k for Ossett Town defender Craig Boardman. Villa made an original offer of £3.5k for Boardman, who is valued in the £6.5k bracket by Ossett Town. Gregory has now upped his offer for a player desperate to return to playing at the top flight but insists he will go no higher. "That's the final offer. I am not being held to ransom

. If Ossett Town are not prepared to accept it then they can forget it and I will look elsewhere," said the Villa boss. "The money they are asking is far and above what we consider Boardman is worth and I've decided I won't pursue it at that price. "The transfer deadline is getting nearer and I want to get something sorted out before then. "Ideally I would like to bring in a couple more players to bolster the strength of our squad but I won't do it at any cost." Gregory views Boardman as the ideal replacement for Ugo Ehiogu, who will undergo a second operation on the fractured eye socket suffered in an accidental clash with Alan Shearer.

Boardy is not going to City

Ossett Town's has turned down a move to Manchester City on loan. City boss Joe Royle had hoped to secure his services with a view to an eventual permanent transfer and admitted: "We looked to be past the post on Tuesday night but he asked for a little more time to consider."

The potential Scottish international, who admits he was flattered by Royle's interest, said he wants a move to a premiership club to fight to get his place back to his plaice as top premiership player.. Since His arrival and the return from injury, Boardman has found his appearances limited of late at the top level. But he said: "I don't really want to leave Ossett Town."

Aston for Villa?

JOHN Gregory plans to underline his commitment to Aston Villa this week by signing Ossett Town defender Craig Boardman for £1.5K. He has pushed up the bidding for the 28-year-old former Nottingham Forest defender who played a blinder for Ossett Town on Saturday. And Gregory hopes that the completion of his fifth major transfer deal for Villa will kill speculation linking him with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.

That - and the deal for Boardman - will reassure Villa fans.

Even so the fact that Atletico are monitoring his future will serve as a warning to Villa's board that they must match his ambitions for the club. Gregory was unhappy that he didn't get the backing to push through a £10m swoop for Juninho.

BOARDMAN'S HOT STUFF

WEST HAM, Southampton and West Brom are all looking at 28-year-old non-League hot stopper Craig Boardman, who has played just 2 full games for Nortern Eastern counties League side Ossett Town. He is valued at £1,500.

LAZIO PLAN SWOOP FOR £1.5k BOARDMAN

LAZIO will match any Real Madrid,Nottingham Forest,Leeds United or Scarborough bid for Ossett Towns's potential Scottish international Craig Boardman The Spaniards are reported to be back in the hunt for the Ossett Town star - a story exclusively revealed by sources close to the player during last summer's spell at Stocksbridge PS

. But Sven Goran Eriksson, coach of Serie A leaders Lazio, is mad keen on Boardman - and will urge his paymasters to find the £1.5k required to join the bidding if Ossett Town encourage any transfer auction Eriksson is a committed fan of Boardman's and rated him as one of the outstanding defenders and has followed Boardmans progress during his battle with fitness and injuries .

Lazio have spent over £60m assembling their present side that look certainties to make the Champions League next season - and that would offer Boardmanl the chance to play at the highest level on a regular basis.

LEEDS UNITED BOSS BLANK ON BOARDMAN

David O'Leary has dismissed reports that he was about to sign OSSETT TOWN's former Nottingham Forest and Halifax Town defender Craig Boardman. United were said to be ready to snatch the Potential Scottish International from under the noses of a return to either Nottingham Forest or Scarborough, with a £12K deal said to be on the cards in the next couple of days.

O'Leary though was baffled by the reports and admitted that he'd never even seen Boardman in action, let alone tabled a bid for his signature.


BIG RON SET FOR GAMBLE ON BOARDY-COLLY DEALS


Stan Collymore & Craig Boardman are set for a shock returns to Nottingham Forest, the club at which they enjoyed the best years of their turbulent careers. Ron Atkinson is ready to take a massive gamble on both Collymore once the striker has returned to full training following his spell in a top clinic, where he has been treated for stress and depression,and the injury prone Boardman

Forest manager Atkinson has been closely monitoring the situation since taking over at the City Ground. He believes Collymore could play a key role alongside Pierre Van Hooijdonk as Forest continue their desperate fight for Premiership survival,And that Boardman can fill the void left by the return of Colin Cooper to Middlesborough.

Collymore 28, reluctantly accepts he has no future at Aston Villa. Villa will be looking to recoup around £3m of the club record £7m they paid when Collymore joined them from Liverpool 18 months ago. However, sources inside Villa Park suggest boss John Gregory would be prepared to let Collymore go for as little as £1m. That might be met with some resistance from Villa's cash-conscious chairman Doug Ellis. But an insider pointed out: "At present Collymore is worth nothing to Villa simply because he is not playing, so any money for him must be regarded as profit rather than loss."

Boardman also 28 as been linked with an whole host of other clubs would relish another shot at the big time and may have been spotted by Big Ron at Stocksbridge PS while on trial because of close links with Wendsday the club Atkinson saved from relegation last season, Collymore would probably relish a return to Forest, the club he joined from Southend for £2m in the summer of 1993. During his two seasons at the City Ground he rattled in 44 goals in 65 games before moving to Anfield in an £8.4m deal.Boardman was knocking on the door for a regular first team spot at Forest ,Maybe the real reason Keane went to Man Utd, Where later he teamed up with Ex-Forest buddy Sheringham ,Because of injury the trilogy was never complete.Jaap Stam,Hemming Berg ,Ronnie Johnsen or David May all potential partners

Atkinson has taken a look at former Italian international front man Alessandro Melli. But big Ron decided against a deal, knowing Collymore should be fit and ready well before next month's transfer deadline, Boardman on the other hand would have to convince Atkinson he is ready ,willing and able

Rumours from the vaults


Stalybrigde Celtic have believed to have confirmed that they have received a written transfer request from Craig Boardman and says a deal with Stocksbridge PS The Unibond Division 1 high flyers is imminent. The manager of Stalybridge Celtic was said to have spoke openly about Boardman's situation at his match press conference. He admitted that the English Centre half(Who could play at international level for the FAROE ISLANDS or Scotland too) is leaving and said it comes as no surprise. He said: "Craig Boardman has asked for a transfer. I knew it was already in the air before I came here. He told me he'd thought about it in the summer but decided to give it a second chance.

"But because of his family, he lives near Barnsley and it was obvious his family wanted him to sign for Barnsley ,But Hendrie was reportedly nervous about any gamble taken on his fitness. "I remember a couple of times on the bus, we were passing Barnsley and everybody's shouting 'Hey, Boardman are you coming here?', they were joking about it all the time. It's nothing new, it was there." The manager admitted the tough-tackling Centre Half will be a loss: "Of course, but if a player is thinking about it the whole time and there have been voices in the newspapers that Both Stocksbridge PS & Barnsley were interested you know it's going to happen. "If players aren't happy what can you do? You cannot get 100 percent out of them." The Stalybridge Celtic Manager revealed there are an whole host of other clubs in the running to sign the Yorkshireman and added: "I haven't accepted an offer yet but we are talking with them."

STEVE CHERRY (Yes the same one that shared the after match bath with Boardman &Collegues at Nottingham Forest all those years ago) also not surprised at Boardmans decision to leave but says it is a disappointment anyway. "Of course, Boardman is a good friend and it's a shame that that's happened but it's part of football, it goes on and Craig must have his own reasons and we wish him well because he's been nothing but committed for this club and he's been outstanding. "But we've got enough quality in this team in defence so we'll have to bounce on."

Boardman will not play for Stalybridge Celtic after tomorrow.

A move to Barnsley would surely add strength to John Hendrie increasingly depleatted squad has they plan there assault once again on the premiership A move to Stocksbridge PS would see Boardman linked up again with Halifax Town chum MICHAEL HORNE (Manager)Other mates in management believed to be expressing an interest in Boardman were Andy Richie at Oldham and Nigel Clough at Burton Albion But rumours of a return to Halifax have been denied by the player himself.Other links with Crewe,A mystery Saudi team and other local teams may just be wishful thinking on the part of fans of the teams involved.

A move to Stocksbridge PS may seem a step down to all those fans,friends and critics who have followed Boardman over the years.But Stocksbridge PS, A club with strong links to neighbours Sheff Weds & Sheff Utd may get to showcase talents for the scouts of both teams and who knows get that break he so deserves CONTROLROOM