Hughes rejects new contract

27 July 2001

Albion have just announced that Lee Hughes has rejected the offer of a new contract. Although he has a year left to run on the current one, his transfer value will be decreasing day by day and he will be able to leave for nothing at the end of the year.

Chairman Paul Thompson said that the contract the Club had offered to him would have made him the highest paid player in the Club's history, and expressed bitter disappointment at the failure to negotiate a successful outcome. As a result, the Club would now listen to any serious offers for him.

It's the moment, frankly, that every Albion fan has known would be on the way since the day that Hughes exploded on the First Division scene after joining from Kidderminster. Rumours have abounded for the last two years about big money moves to Middlebrough, Everton, Blues and others but they have never come to anything. Many expected a transfer to have been announced this summer, but despite the many further rumours, no offers have yet been made for his services.

Given that Hughes will now be leaving, it's essential that we get as much money for him as we possibly can - and that means a sale as soon as possible. Hughes has been rated at two million, three million, five million and even eight in the past - but now it looks like we may find him going on the cheap just to get something rather than nothing.

Previous Stories:

  24 July 2001:  Cummings joins on loan

  23 July 2001:  New away kit out Friday

  11 July 2001:  Trewick appointed as Rams coach

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