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January 23, 2003
(Thursday)
Venables' Woodgate
plea
Terry Venables
remains defiant in his wish to keep United defender
Jonathan Woodgate at Elland Road, stating: "I will do everything I
can and more to keep him."
Venables made his thoughts known whilst watching Leeds reserves grind
out a 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough at Belle Vue on Tuesday evening,
just hours after Newcastle manager Bobby Robson made his intentions
to sign England centre-half Woodgate clear.
Robson's intial claim that the Magpies had spoken to Woodgate, who
turns 23 today, was quickly denied by United chiefs who categorically
denied a deal had been struck.
Having already lost Rio Ferdinand against his wishes, Venables will
stick to his guns over Woodgate. Contrary to newspaper reports, there
has been no indication from Woodgate that he has been unsettled by
the whole affair.
Venables meanwhile is hopeful that with Seth Johnson likely to tie up
a move to Middlesbrough within the next few days, he can call a halt
on player sales and strengthen the squad instead, but recognises the
club have had to make some difficult decisions recently in an attempt
to cut costs.
"The club have had a very difficult period of time and they feel in
their wisdom that it has to be sorted," said Terry.
"All the time the club are looking to finance deals to make sure we
don't drop behind other teams, we've had a period of that already.
At some stage hopefully, optimistically, they are trying to put funds
in place and that will be helpful for us to satisfy the bank and the
supporters, who are looking to see the squad improved.
"I will try to do whatever I can do within the remit of the future. I
will work to try and get players that we can sign, if not I will do
anything else to try and strengthen because the squad does need it.
"I've known for a while where I want to strengthen and that hasn't
changed, it may have done if Robbie Fowler had gone."
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