The Moore saga ends

11 September 2001

No word locally as yet, but Southern newspaper The News has carried the following story. It looks as though Megson's comments at the weekend about his agent making excessive demands were close to the truth:

I'LL STAY AND FIGHT SAYS MOORE

DARREN MOORE ruled out a switch to West Brom - and pledged to stay to fight for his place at Pompey.

The Blues skipper's proposed £750,000 move has collapsed after he failed to agree personal terms.

Moore insisted he had not been put under pressure to go - despite Pompey accepting West Brom's bid.

He is likely to be left out of the Pompey 16 for the fourth straight game at Wimbledon tomorrow night.

Moore could instead make an appearance for the reserves against Bristol Rovers to maintain his match fitness.

Moore said: 'As a player you have the last say on whether you want to move or not. I've still got four years on my contract here. I signed it with the intention of honouring it and working hard. I didn't sign it to move on.'

Blues boss Graham Rix has a reputation for preferring ball-playing defenders over the more robust type, but he said: 'If he's staying and plays well enough, he's got a chance like everyone else of getting into the team.'

Obviously he finds it more attractive to sit out a cushy contract playing for Portsmouth's reserves rather than get into the first team of a side that reached the playoffs last year and just hammered one of the promotion favourites 4-0. Let's hope Megson has a more ambitious target lined up to replace him - but after Saturday's game, just who would he drop?

Previous Stories:

10 September 2001: Striker chaos

27 August 2001: Still no Moore

26 August 2001: More sweets for the lads

The Moore saga ends

11 September 2001

I'LL STAY AND FIGHT SAYS MOORE

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