Republic of Ireland defender Kenny Cunningham signed a four-year with new Premiership outfit Birmingham City. The entire package is thought to be in the region of GBP£3.5mil to bring the Dubliner to the Midlands. Kenny joined Wimbledon in 97’ and made more than 300 appearances for the Div. I club. However what with his outstanding World Cup displays for the Republic of Ireland, Cunningham has impressed blues manager Steve Bruce for quite some time. It was of late looking like Kenny would join the army of Irish men at Peter Reid’s Sunderland, however the deal with Birmingham seems to have suited Kenny more than moving so far up north it may seem. Now the situation facing Steve Bruce will be that of following up his interest with Crystal Palace regarding the proposed signing of Clinton Morrison. The Senior Republic of Ireland striker is highly favoured also at a price thought to be around GBP£5.mil.
Mark Kennedy Injury Update
Republic of Ireland international Mark Kennedy under went surgery in May on his recurring groin injury. This cost him his seat in Mick McCarthy’s final 23-man squad, which travelled to the World Cup Finals in Korea/Japan. Despite training with Wolves in this pre-season, Kennedy will miss out on the up and coming pre-season matches for the Div I outfit in Portugal due to the injury. But the Dublin born winger had another scan and he will have to stay behind to await the results. It’s too early to say whether he will miss out on playing in the friendly against Finland in Helsinki on August 21, or the Republic of Irelands qualification games for the European Championship 2004.
Mattie Holland meanwhile returned from his family holiday yesterday, after a well deserved four week break. The Republic of Ireland midfielder will join up with Ipswich Town in Denmark on their pre-season tour for the moment this Wednesday. However Mattie is still being strongly linked with Premiership Middlesboro. And finally Republic of Ireland U21 Thomas Butler has been included in Sunderland's squad for their pre-season training camp in France. Midfielder Butler is still stalling over the offer of a new deal at the Stadium of Light, pending the guarantee of first team football however he is attracting the interest of West Ham.
And theres a new book out about our last Irish Captain, "Roy Keane, Captain Fantastic". Worth a read. Mabye?
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