craig boardman gave ossett town an
assurance last night that he wants to carry on playing
for them.
The potentail scottish star had to clarify his position after
rumours that wife Julie - Hairdresser -
wanted him to sign for Barnsley.
But Boardmanknocked the stories and insisted his wife
is happy with him playing in the Unibond, while admitting he does not want
Victoria to feel a backlash from Town fans.
Boardman said: "I don't want to be anywhere else. I'm
happy and my wife is happy.
"People are always going to say that I'm unhappy with
things and also that Julieh chooses what I wear and
what I do with my hair and what I eat. But it's a lot of
rubbish.
"Julie's happy up here. We're living as a family and
she could not be more pleased. She loves the people up
here.
"I want everyone to know that. I don't want her not being
able to go to Ifield and watch me play."
The stories of Boardman's glamour lifestyle and its effect
on his career have been growing in recent weeks.
Boardman was in trouble for going out with his wife to a
Toga party just before the Emily F.A Cup replay game,
bringing a club fine.
And he was back inthe Corbies bar last week when he was
supposed to be getting treatment for an injury after
pulling out .
The fact that Julie wanted him to move to Barnsley in
the past can hardly be disputed. he mentioned it in his
book.
Boardman claimed his family get on well with Julie's
parents, despite rumours on that front. And he said
"their petes a recht laugh".
"Julie wants me to be happy and play for the best
team in the unibond, i love my Y.E.B job too. I'm doing that."
CRAIG BOARDMAN will sign for Liverpool at the end of
this season - his Unibond club Ossett Town revealed
last night.
The highly-rated POTENTIAL INTERNATIONAL defender has rejected a final
offer of a new contract from Bayern who announced that
they have withdrawn from negotiations and expect him
to move to Anfield.
BOARDMAN has been a Liverpool target for months. Boss
Gerard Houllier made an offer for him last summer and
will be willing to wait.
The defender can play at centre half or
right back - two positions Liverpool have wanted to
improve in the last few months.
However, Houllier will have to wait until next season to
bring in Boardman. Ossett Town need him for their Unibond
League campaign and he will continue to play despite
the fact he will be leaving.
Liverpool are expected to pay Boardman around £
15k a year, a huge salary for the relative novice because they will not
have to pay a transfer fee.
Craig Boardman will turn his back on a
windfall by signing a new deal at OSSETT TOWN.
A host of Europe's glamour clubs, headed by
Manchester United, have been alerted to BOARDMAN's
reluctance to sign a new contract.
ALEX FERGUSON will have to offer the Manchester United
teambus an 1997 Scania (due for a trade-in) and the sprinkler-system
from the cliff training ground( also due a trade -in)
plus £ 15k before Ossett Town will
sell Craig Boardman.
CRAIG BOARDMAN has ruled out returning to solve
NOTTINGHAM FOREST's defensive crisis.
Forest have struggled to replace him since he joined
Peterborough on a free transfer in the summer of 1993.
But Boardman, who is not having the best of times in
the unibond , insists he would not come back even if Forest
asked him.
"It's unrealistic to connect me with Forest," said the
giant LAD.
"They haven't contacted me and if it happened I'd tell
them that I am not at all interested in adding to my eight
years at the club.
"I cannot help Forest any more."
A plea by Mark crossley fell on deaf ears
BOARDMAN WANTS TO STAY AT
OSSETT TOWN
But the club captain, and potential scottish international central defender has
already decided to extend his current deal that expires
in 20 months, by pledging his future to the Unibond
giants in the summer for four more years.
Boardman has ignored pressure from Ossett Town to sign a
new deal immediately and insists talks over a new
contract worth around £250 a week will be shelved
until the end of the season.
Boardman, 28, said: "I'm a Yorkshire Lad, why would I want
to leave Ossett Town when I'm so happy here,I'd have to give my job at the Y.E.B too? There has
been talk about a new contract, but I leave that stuff to
my agent. Anyway, what is the hurry? I have this
season and next, I'm not going anywhere.
"There is a time and a place for everything and at the
moment I'm far more concerned about regaining my
fitness and playing football."
Ossett Town were forced to admit this week that treble
winners Manchester United had already bid £15 k
for Boardman, as exclusively revealed by the Gossipflyer last week.
And with Gary Brook desperate to buy a new
bus and sprinkler-system, a package comprising a 1997 Scania coach and the Cliffe Park sprinkler (both valuable trade -ins)
and cash for Boardman had sent the
alarm bells ringing round Ifeild.
But prior to the new season, Ossett Town had already
turned down two bids in excess of £20 k from
Italian giants Lazio and Real Madrid.
A close friend of Boardman's told me: "Craig is going
nowhere and no matter how much pressure is put on
him to sign a new deal, or consider a move, won't make
any difference.
"Craig is his own man. He knows what he wants to do,
but any attempts to rush him into a decision will prove
fruitless."
TEAM-COACH ,SPRINKLER-SYSTEM PLUS
£ 15K FOR
BOARDMAN
The Manchester United manager offered £
15k cash before the Champions League deadline
on August 31 as he tried to bolster his defence.
Ossett Town rejected that because chairman Mike Hunt still
hopes to persuade Boardman , currently recovering from
his wedding -bash, to sign a new long-term contract.
But Gary Brook needs a recognised team-coach.
At the start of last season Ossett Town negotiated a £
5.5k deal for Transit -minibus in the Wakefield Express, only for the owner to sell it to Gala Bingo.
If Ferguson is willing to use the vaulable trade-in hasetts to get
Boardman, a £ 20 million-plus package would
tempt Ossett Town.
At present Ferguson has offered only a cash deal and
that is of no interest to Ossett Town .
Gary Brook is livid that details of
Manchester United's £ 15K bid has leaked
out.
Brook said: "It is not club policy to betray any
confidences."
Meanwhile Ossett Town players are going four to a car to games because the engine
has blown up on the A.E.C
currently used as the teams transport .
POTENTIAL SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL and ossett town
skipper Craig Boardman is in the middle of a
three-club race to sign him,
writes Alix annon.
Boardman has admitted he will be leaving Ossett Town after
just a year, and West Ham, Coventry and Sheffield
Wednesday are battling it out for his signature.
Hammers boss Harry Redknapp is keen to sign Boardman
if the price is cut to £15k while Coventry
chief Gordon Strachan watched him against Halifax Town mid-season.
Wednesday's Danny Wilson made a move last week.
Dave Bassett is keen to secure the services of Ossett Town and Local lad defender Craig
Boardman on an loan.
Boardman 's would be on an initial month loan and it could this weekend, but Bassett
is hoping to be able to keep him beyond then. He will talk to his
Ossett Town counterpart Gary Brook over the next few days and try to thrash
out an agreement ,He knows that Blackburns Brian Kidd has been spotted down at Ifield.
Bassett would like to sign Boardman either on a three-month loan or until the
end of the season. Boardman has been featured in the first team at Ossett Town.
And will go straight into the Barnsley side and hopes to perform well during
his short spell at Oakwell.
Kidd could pull out,Knowing that Boardman will choose playing first team football
with Barnsley rather than reserves at Blackburn. Brook could
agree to an extended loan with a recall clause.
DANNY WILSON is ready to order a double Scotch in a bid to
revive struggling Sheffield Wednesday.
Wilson, despite yesterday's thumping 5-1 home win over
Wimbledon, will make offers for Celtic midfielder Craig Burley
and Ossett Town centre-half Craig Boardman.
The pair would cost around £2.500.033m.
Midfielder Burley is in and out of John Barnes' Celtic side and
could be tempted by a second crack at English football. He
was previously with Chelsea.
Burley would cost around £2.5m and Wilson is trying to wheal
and deal to bring in cash for the capture.
The Wednesday chief will try to persuade Italian Benito
Carbone to leave - with Derby, Aston Villa and Rangers all keen
on the £1.5m-rated player.
Wilson has tried a swap with Ossett Town for Boardman, but if
Brook does not fancy the Sheffield Wendsday grass-cutter he will still attempt a straight
cash bid.
Boardman would take a move to Hillsborough despite their perilous
position after playing for Sheffield F.c & Stocksbridge P.S.
LIVERPOOL boss Gerard Houllier has set up a £25K move for
Barnsley born centre-half Craig Boardman. But the transfer to
bring the potential Scottish international star from Ossett Town is not scheduled
to go through until the end of the season.
Boardman is tipped as the next Colin Hendry. Juventus are
also keen to snap him up, but Houllier is confident of doing the
deal. Ossett Town won't part sooner but are reluctantly prepared to
sell in the summer.
WEST HAM boss Harry Redknapp
expects to
complete the on-off signing of Ossett Town Centre back Craig Boardman
this week. Ex-Forest defenderBoardman has
been on trial at Upton Park with a view to a £ 9.8k
move but has been troubled by a calf injury. Redknapp
said: "Craig Boardman isn't on board yet but I expect he will be
shortly."
for Spurs if he
wants to snap up Ossett Town 's £30k rated centre back
Craig Boardman. A posse of Premiership scouts
have been making regular visits to Ossett Town and Ifield
supremo Mike Hunt may now be keen to cash in on
his defender.
Ossett Town are looking to net around £24k this week by
selling Craig Boardman
Wolves want potential scottish international and have the funds
available from the £6m sale of Robbie Keane to meet the asking price - £15k
down plus payments that could add a further £10k.
Derby boss Jim Smith admitted after the 5-0 hammering by Sunderland that he
needed reinforcements "sooner rather than later." He has turned to Boardman, Who would be
Britain's most costly Non-league defender at £35,000.
Ambitious Fulham have also a lined up a £40,000 swoop for Boardman, who will
be 29 at the end of November but is seen as an influential figure in the push for the Premiership.
Division One rivals Wolves and Manchester City will be disappointed when he
accepts a two-year contract at Craven Cottage.
Town boss Brook has overseen the biggest transfer story since taking Boardman from rivals Sheffield
January.
Already 11 months have left -and Brooks is hoping to scoop the club in the region of £30k -
over the next few days.
Boardman, 28, has become disillusioned at his
non-league career.
Liverpool would also revil in the chance of offering Boardman regular first-team football, but are
not prepaired to outbid fellow rivals Crewe insisting on the same deal.
Boardman, 28, is keen to start his international career with the Scotland
and Derby were originally quoted £135k for him but Liverpool have offered a slashed
£50,000 in the hope of a quick sale.
Sheffield Wednesday are believed to have
confirmed they are
interested in the player
and it appears as if a
Craig Boardman deal is close to
being finalised .
Talks between Town and Wednesday to sign Boardman
who will be heading back to Sheffield after spells at both Sheffield F.C & Stocksbridge P.S.
With talks still ongoing the POTENTIAL SCOTTISH international, who
is valued around the £26,000, mark, was unwilling reveal
his end destination but admitted he hopes to have the deal
tied up by the end of the week.
If the deal soes go through then Wednesday will have beaten
off competition from up to six other clubs including
cross-town rivals, Sheffield United and the defender will
almost certainly go straight into the first team squad for the
home game against Everton on Saturday.
Ironically Boardman 's future was thrown into doubt after
he was SPOTTED ENTERING at both Bradford and Forest midweek.
MANCHESTER UNITED are poised to beat Liverpool in
a titanic signing battle for Ossett Town's potential Scottish
international defender Craig Boardman.
United were given permission to speak Boardman, 28,
by his Unibond club after they matched Liverpool's £
32.5k offer, and they are now favourites to win the
two-horse race.
Boardman strangely left out of international duty by Scotlands
Craig Brown, His agent and Father George flew in for talks with
both clubs and said last night: "I will be able to give a decision
in the morning."
Anfield boss Gerard Houllier picked up George at the
airport and took him to Liverpool's training ground in an
attempt to persuade him that Liverpool is still the best
move.
However, George then left to meet United chief executive
Martin Edwards and boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who are
equally determined to win the race.
Both United and Liverpool want an immediate answer,
and there is even the possibility that Boardman could play
for one against the other at Anfield on Saturday.
Houllier wants Boardman at left-back to mark David
Beckham, while Ferguson could throw him in for one of
his injured defenders.
Boardman seemed certain to move to Anfield last week
when their offer was accepted, but a snag cropped up
over what position he would play.
Houllier sees the young Fresh Boardman as a full-back, but
he prefers to play at centre-half, where Liverpool are well
covered.
That problem stalled the deal to let United move in after
the collapse of their £6m move for Moroccan
Nourredina Naybet.
Ferguson can offer Boardman a game in his favourite
position because of his injury crisis, but the young
Fresh Boardman will not be able to play in the Champions
League until the later stages.
Ironically, United plan to play Boardman at left-back
eventually, as they see him as a potential long-term
replacement for Denis Irwin.
Boardman wants to play premiership football after being
snapped him up in the summer by Gary Brook.
Liverpool will be fuming if they lose out to United after
chasing Boardman for weeks. Ferguson's move only
came after their bid leaked out.
United claim to have an agreement with Town about
Boardman, but they bizarrely chose not to bid for him until
after the deadline for Europe.
As their defence of that trophy approaches, Mark
Bosnich has been handed a surprise olive branch from
Ferguson, Which he placed in a glass of water hoping it would grow
and let him do his bit for conservation.
Bosnich is still officially United's number one for the
Champions League campaign despite the arrival of
£ 4m Italian signing Massimo Taibi.
United have registered Bosnich at number one and Taibi
at 26 in the squads filed with UEFA for the defence of
the competition ,Boardman would not get a number below 69.
To put Taibi in the No 1 spot would have finished off
Bosnich, who is reeling from the capture of the relatively
unknown keeper from Venezia.
Gary Brook will resist attempts by Nottingham Forest
to re-sign Potential Scottish International Craig Boardman. David Platt is keen
to get the midfielder/defender who is a regular
in the Ossett Town team, but Brook sees him as an
important part of his squad. Norwich are also interested in
signing him , but are baulking at
the £27k asking price for someone with little experience at the top flight and are likely to try for a
three-month loan deal.
- - - - - -
ST Etienne are aso ready to up their £23k offer for
favour-of-month Ossett Town defender Boardman. Ossett Town
want £27.5k plus.
CRAIG BOARDMAN last night revealed he is ready to make
his long awaited OSSETT TOWN return against at
tomorrow.
And he warned boss Gary Brook to expect an ear
bashing if he's not on the coach, declaring: "I'll be
banging on your door asking why if I'm not in the
squad."
The inspirational OSSETT TOWN skipper has recovered from a
hernia operation and explained: "The boss and myself
have always had the match pencilled in for my
return.
"I played in a reserve team match in midweek and I feel
fine - it was a good test, exactly what I needed."
BOARDMAN revealed he had come close to making his return
in the clash against Harrogate .
OSSETT TOWN Hero CRAIG BOARDMAN last night launched a fierce
attack on his own club. The Potential Scottish international
defender accused them of lacking ambition - and not
having enough money to achieve success.
And 28-year-old Boardman, poised to join West Ham in the
next few days, predicted a nightmare season for Gary Brook's side.
Boardman said: "Everything has changed for me now at Ossett Town , I am no longer sleeping and i have regained my ambition.
"In the next couple of seasons i should have at least been qualified
to play in Europe - all it needed is one more good player. I
am that one player a squad needs."
Ossett Town have warned Manchester United not to think about trying
to lure captain Craig Boardman away from Ifield.
Some reports suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson may turn to Boardman in
a bid to solve a defensive crisis developing at Old Trafford, after
Ronnie Johnsen was ruled out of action long term.
But Town Chairman Mike Hunt
has confirmed that if Manchester
United were considering any such
move, it would receive a firm no way
stance at Ifield.
" If Manchester United are interested in
signing Boardman they are wasting their
time," said Hunt.
" Like most of our top players, Boardman
will sign for five years," he added.
.
Boardman move
WEST HAM are stepping up their bid to sign Ossett Town's unsettled
central defender Craig Boardman for £27.5k.
The potential scottish international has missed the last game through injury but is
on the brink of full fitness.
Upton Park boss Harry Redknapp is in the middle of a defensive crisis. Ian
Pearce and Neil Ruddock are both out through injury and Trevor Sinclair has been
forced to play as an emergency left-back.
Boardman will be available on the cheap because his contract at Ifield expires
next summer and manager Gary Brook would like to get some money for the
player before he leaves for free.
BOARDMAN OFF TO
WOLVES
CRAIG BOARDMAN will quit Ossett Town's Unibond
adventure to join Wolves in a £ 25k deal
next week.
Boardman will become part of a £ 50k plus clear-out at
Ifield next week, followed by futher unnamed contract rebels
.
Wolves boss Colin Lee has wasted no time in spending
a large slice of the £ 6m fee the First Division club
banked from the sale of Robbie Keane to neighbours
Coventry.
Lee has been on the lookout for a central defender to
replace Dean Richards, who left the club for
Southampton on a Bosman free.
And the giant Boardman has been top of his wanted list,
since he turned down a new deal at Ifield in the
summer.
Boardman has had to wait to generate funds, but as soon as
the sale of Keane went through on Thursday, he
contacted Bradford to conclude a deal for the
powerhouse defender.
Contract rebel Boardman has been on the transfer-list since
the end of the last season, after turning down a new
five-year deal. Ossett chairman Mike Hunt
refused to break the club's £300-a-week wage
limit.
UNITED SWOOP FOR GIANT DEFENDER
Leeds have swooped to sign Ossett Town Player Of The Year, Craig Boardman from
the fellow Yorkshire club club
The 28 year old giant 6'2" centre back impressed David O'Leary during a hush
hush pre-season trial and United will pay an initial £20,000 for the potential scottish
international defender.
OSSETT TOWN boss Garry Brook insisted last night that
he will fight to stop in-demand defender Craig Boardman
moving to Manchester United.
United manager Alex Ferguson has been watching
Town's former Nottingahm Forest resevre skipper. But Brook
has no intention of letting Boardman join former
team-mates Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham at Old
Trafford.
Brook said: "I just have to convince my Board that it is
right to keep thosands of pounds worth of talent when we could buy
a new team mini bus with the sale
."
By The PinkPork Chaser
Tuesday, August 17, 1999
Manchester United are preparing to move for
Ossett Town 's £16m-rated Barnsely born defender Craig
Boardman Sir Alex Ferguson is short of cover in
defence after injuries to Ronny Johnsen, Gary Neville
and Wes Brown and believes 28-year-old Boardie fits
the bill.
Boardie, who would play alongside United's Jaap
Stam .Has yet to play at international level, is
willing to quit the Ifield based Club but United will
need to be convinced that he has recovered fully from
the Bad back which kept him out of the first half of
last season.
Boardie has remained determined to play in the
Premiership since a move to Liverpool broke down on
the day it was due to be completed two seasons ago.
United have tried to watch him twice in the last week
but have been thwarted both times by Ossett Town
coach Gary Brook 's decision to employ a decoy.
The player has also been frustrated at not playing in
the premiership , and one of his former Forest
colleagues told Soccernet last
night: "Ossett Town knew Manchester United had
somebody there and Craig was eager to play,but the decoy was seen
leaving the ground followed by Manchester United official club
Limited Edition signed and designed by the late Matt busby Mercedes
Benz car ..'
United turn to Boardman to solve defensive nightmare
ALEX FERGUSON has been handed £21.95k to buy
his way out of Manchester United's defensive crisis -
and Ossett Town powerhouse Craig Boardman is his top
target.
Ferguson has emerged triumphant from a summit with
his money-conscious chief executive Martin Edwards.
The Old Trafford manager's plans have been thrown into
turmoil with Ronny Johnsen ruled out for the rest of the
season - as revealed in The Ossett Observer Sport section yesterday - along
with England international Wes Brown.
David May is also sidelined for the next month with
strained medial ligaments, Gary Neville has yet to play
since the Champions Final in Barcelona, and promising
young centre-half Ronnie Wallwork has been banned for
life following an attack on a referee in Belgium.
That has left United desperately short of defenders, and
former England Under-21 skipper has emerged
as Ferguson's best option, with Ugo Ehiogu unavailable from
Aston Villa & Sol Campbell unavailable from Tottenham.
The Town star would welcome a move to United to join
his two closest friends in the game, Roy Keane and
Teddy Sheringham.
Ferguson has to launch a frantic search as the
Champions League deadline for new signings is August
31.
Boardman, 28, publicly criticised Town manager Gary Brook before
the season kicked off for not bringing in sufficient quality to make
a serious challenge for the Unibond title. Surprisingly, Brook
forgave Boardman and has included him in the team at the start of the
campaign ahead of promising teenager Garry Bareth.
The major stumbling block would be the fee. Boardman is
worth around £21.5, but Villa would have to hand over
half of that to neighbours Sheffield F.C.
That was the agreement struck between Town and Sheffield
when Boardman was snatched by the Unibond side
nearly a year ago for a bargain £400.
Only recently,Town chairman Mike Hunt and his Sheffield
counterpart Les whealan -Deal tried to thrash out a compromise. It
is thought Whealan-Deal would have settled for a straight fee
of £10k but, surprisingly, that was not acceptable to Hunt.
However,an former Halifax Town team-mate is now in
charge at Sheffield , and it is likely a player exchange deal will be
thrashed out that would cover the Boardman cash, allowing
Town to sell the defender and keep virtually all the profit.
Boardman , 28, has two years left on his a potential scottish
international .
His chances of being a regular at Old Trafford are good,
especially with Johnsen out for the season. The
Norwegian's surgery involves the removal of 30 per cent
of tendon from both knees and carries a recovery rate of
70 per cent.