Albion target Cummings for loan

21 March 2001

On the eve of the transfer deadline day, Albion have made a move Chelsea's 20 year-old Scottish U-21 international defender Warren Cummings. Cummings had a 3 month loan spell at Bournemouth earlier in the season which culminated in a failed attempt by the Cherries in January to sign him when Chelsea said that he wasn't for sale.

At the start of Cummings' loan spell, Bournemouth manager Sean O'Driscoll said: "He has a good engine and a great attitude. He is a box-to-box player and would be a good addition to the squad". At the end of the loan, O'Driscoll was clearly still impressed: "For everything he has done for the club, we would like to thank him". As he's yet to feature in Chelsea's first team, there's little info to be found on him from a Chelsea perspective.

Bizzarely, the Bournemouth Daily Echo provides the most information we've been able to track down on Cummings (from December 16th 2000):

Cherries loan star Warren Cummings today admitted he was "bitterly disappointed" that Chelsea have put the block on him staying at Dean Court for the rest of the season. Cummings' request to sign a long-term loan agreement was turned down by Blues assistant manager Gwyn Williams following talks at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. And although Cummings was granted permission to stay at Dean Court for a third and final month, he was also told he must return to Chelsea when the deal expires on January 20.

Cummings is due to complete his second month with Cherries after tomorrow's Division Two clash with Swansea City at Dean Court and will sign a new agreement next week (3pm kick-off). But in an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, the Scottish under-21 international today revealed he was unhappy at the prospect of returning to Stamford Bridge.

Cummings, 20, said: "I am bitterly disappointed because I was very keen to stay here until the end of the season, but unfortunately the decision was out of my hands. I was told I still have a future at Chelsea, but we will just have to wait and see. If things don't go too well and I'm playing in the reserves when I go back, I'm not going to be best pleased and I will be asking a few questions. They said they would like me to go on loan to a Division One club because I would be closer to the first-team squad, but whether that happens, I'm not too sure. Chelsea had a few problems when Mikael Forssell went to Crystal Palace on loan last season because when they tried to recall him, they couldn't because of the rules. That left them with egg on their face and they said they didn't want the same thing happening to me. The only consolation is that they have agreed to let me stay for another month and I will probably sign next week."

Cummings has been a big hit at Dean Court since arriving in October and has netted one goal in six appearances. He has also played a major role in tightening up the Cherries defence. Cherries boss Sean O'Driscoll said: "We are disappointed Warren won't be staying for the rest of the season because he gives us a great deal of balance on the left-hand side. There is always a chance loan players will be recalled by their clubs and I do have one or two possible replacements in the pipeline. I hope Chelsea think we have helped to make Warren a better player because he has certainly helped us and I would like to thank them for letting us have him."

Cummings usually plays as a left-back, although it could well be that Gary Megson has him pencilled in to play at left wing-back. As he's 5'9", he's unlikely to have a towering aerial presence. If he comes to the Hawthorns, we'll have to see how he reacts to the pressure of being pitched into Albion's quest for a play-off place.

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20 March 2001: More televised Baggies games

20 March 2001: Loan signings likely?

16 March 2001: Wolves preview

Albion target Cummings for loan

21 March 2001

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