Roberts wants out

30 June 2003

Albion striker Jason Roberts has stunned many fans by handing in a transfer request, reported on local news as being for "personal reasons". Rumours have been circulating for some time now about many players being unhappy about Gary Megson's style of management, and Roberts was certainly one who seemed to have issues with his boss last season; some people have even told us about one incident where Roberts received a 20 minute barrage of abuse from the manager in front of his team mates and a few rather uncomfortable supporters at the training ground.

The Club have said that the request will be considered at a Board meeting on Thursday - although Megson has already said, at the end of last season, that anyone who wants to leave can do so.

What sort of fee would we get for Roberts if he does attract interest? Most seem to think that, in the current climate of financial restrictions on clubs, we would do extremely well to recoup the 2 million or so we spent on bringing him here.

If the move does go ahead, how likely are we to start the new season with as many players as we finished the last one, given that six first team squad members have been released, McInnes is due to move to Dundee United and now Roberts is looking to leave? So far we haven't actually brought in anyone to replace them, except for a youth team defender and a midfielder whose work permit is still going through appeal, and we already had a squad that was down to the bare minimum!

The real issue, of course, is how many others will be doing the same as Jason?

Previous Stories:

  28 June 2003:  Season ticket deadline

  25 June 2003:  League Cup: Brentford at Home

  20 June 2003:  Batson leaves Albion

Back to the News Index