Dons’ wrong turn over Wright

Aberdeen’s move for striker hits snag as darlington increase asking price for player

 

By Paul Third

 

Published: 15/07/2008

 

Aberdeen’s move for Darlington forward Tommy Wright is on the verge of collapse as discussions between the two clubs have broken down.

 

The Dons believed they had agreed a £75,000 fee with the Quakers for the 23-year-old but the English League 2 side has increased its valuation of the player.

 

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood has threatened to pull out of the deal if Darlington do not reduce their demands for the former England youth international.

 

He said: “I spoke to Willie Miller who told me a fee had been accepted but the club has moved the goalposts.

 

“We are still talking to Darlington but if they don’t come closer to our valuation of the player then the deal will be off.â€

 

Calderwood has been tracking Wright, the Quakers’ leading scorer last season with 15 goals, for months. But he is prepared to move on to another target if the issue is not resolved quickly.

 

The Dons manager is keen to get new faces on board before Aberdeen depart for Holland a week tomorrow for their training camp. He said: “We thought we had done our bit and were on the verge of getting a result. But sometimes an agent, the player or a club changes what has been agreed. In this case it is the club.

 

“This happens all the time with clubs in England which is why I don’t like talking about deals when they are not completed.

 

“The hopes of the supporters have been built up as they have read we are after a player but, as is so often the case, negotiations are never straightforward.â€

 

Darlington manager Dave Penney said: “We have received offers for a couple of players but none of the offers has been accepted.â€

 

While Calderwood hopes for a resolution in his bid for the player, he has turned his attention to his current squad which will take on Dundee at Dens Park in the second pre-season friendly.

 

Michael Paton and Sam Stewart will join Neil Cooper’s squad for a friendly with Nairn, while the rest of the first-team squad players are at Dens.

 

Calderwood said: “Dundee will give us a very hard game which is why we chose them as opposition.

 

“They are a Premier League club in all but name and if there was a 16-team SPL I have no doubt they would be in there.

 

“They will be joint favourites for promotion this season along with St Johnstone and I am sure Alex Rae will have his players motivated. We had expected to be in Ireland this week but when it fell through I was delighted to be able to get a game against a team of Dundee’s quality.

 

“We have a game at Peter-head on Friday which will be another good test for us. I am looking for two good performances this week.â€

Yaaas!

 

A big tough bastard. Just what we need up front. 

 

He is the ying to Lee Miller's yang.

Yaaas!

 

A big tough bastard. Just what we need up front. 

 

He is the ying to Lee Miller's yang.

 

I still think he sounds like the ying to Lee Miller's ying. We're crying out for a yang. We haven't had a yang since Billy Dodds' first season with us.

 

I'm also concerned that, if this hard bastard stuff proves to be the case, the refs will target Wright and he'll just end up giving loads of free-kicks away rather than putting the fear of God into defenders. Defenders will just need to do a Pressley to deal with him - bump into him and go down.

 

However, none of us have seen him play yet (and might never do...) so I'll give him a chance.

 

 

To be honest i was taking the wright signing with a pinch of salt till i saw him play.  It seems from that interview that deano actually does rate him.  Might actually let myself get a bit excited now  

If Deano says he is good enough, thats good enough for me. Saw him play against hearts on Sunday, battered the Hearts defenders and was unlucky he had two goals ruled off for offside.

“There will be occasions when we play all three in the same game and I’m sure the Dons fans will enjoy watching that.â€

 

No Jimmy, we won't enjoy that because it'll probably mean we're chasing the game. 

No Jimmy, we won't enjoy that because it'll probably mean we're chasing the game.   

And it'll also mean that mackie or Maguire will be on the wing.

Any news on his medical/signing yet?

Any news on his medical/signing yet?

 

Medical is tomorrow I think.

No way this boy can be thrown straight in against Caley on saturday even if he passes medical and signs the morn. Actually on second thoughts probably JC will do exactly that

So its D-Day, anyone going down to the club to welcome him to the flock?

So its D-Day, anyone going down to the club to welcome him to the flock?

 

EE headline - "The Wright Stuff"

Wright: I will be fit to face Inverness

Striker confident he’ll pass medical

EXCLUSIVE

 

By Andrew Moir

 

Published: 07/08/2008

 

IN THE WRIGHT MOOD: Striker Tommy Wright at his Granite City hotel today. Picture by Donna Murray.

More Pictures

 

TOMMY Wright today insisted he’ll pass a medical to complete his dream move north.

 

And the striker is desperate for a shot at Inverness Caley Thistle in Saturday’s SPL opener.

 

Wright’s £75,000 transfer was delayed last month as he was still recovering from an injury to his right knee which left the move in doubt.

 

But the 23-year-old insists he is nearly back to full fitness and would be ready to make his debut at the weekend.

 

“I’m delighted to be coming to Aberdeen, especially as it has dragged on for a while now,†said Wright.

 

“I have already had all my scans and the club is happy with them. It’s just the fact I hadn’t been in full training that held things up.

 

“I'm confident of completing the move.â€

 

“It would be fine to feature at some point against Inverness Caley Thistle, but that’s all entirely down to the judgement of the manager and medical staff.

 

“I certainly feel fit enough to at least take a place on the bench but that won’t be my decision.â€

 

Wright also revealed how he suffered the injury that nearly wrecked his Dons switch.

 

He was forced to wear a protective strap during his rehabilitation.

 

But the former England youth international is now back up to full strength and ready to pen a three-year deal.

 

He added: “I damaged medial ligaments in my right knee while playing for Darlington in the play-offs and as a result had to wear a brace for two months.

 

“That steadied the injury and helped to aid my recovery.

 

“It feels fine and I have been kicking a ball again for a few weeks now.

 

“I was a little wary at first and did suffer a few niggles, but that is only to be expected.

 

“That was three or four weeks ago and I haven’t had anything like that again recently which has been very reassuring.

 

“I’m confident everything will be fine in terms of my medical.

 

“I've been doing things over the last two weeks which should easily get me through a medical.

 

“I’m also pleased it’s a three-year deal which gives me the chance to settle properly.â€

 

Wright will battle it out for a striking slot in Jimmy Calderwood’s team along with Lee Miller, Darren Mackie and Chris Maguire.

 

And he’s determined to show his class at Pittodrie to earn a regular slot in the Dons attack.

 

Wright won England youth honours earlier in his career and reckons that extra experience can only benefit him.

 

“I played for England at under-19 level and in a tournament for the under-20s which was a great honour.

 

“That's an achievement that I can look back on and be proud of.

 

“To represent your country at any level is something every player wants to do.

 

“Being involved with England helped my development earlier in my career.

 

“I know I can still improve and get better as I’m just 23.

 

“I want to develop further as a player at Aberdeen.â€

 

Wright is expected to be paraded as Calderwood’s sixth summer signing tomorrow.

Any news on this yet? Has his leg fell aff and they are sellotaping it back on?

Any news on this yet? Has his leg fell aff and they are sellotaping it back on?

He is meant to be getting his photo taken in the broom cupboard tomorrow.

He is meant to be getting his photo taken in the broom cupboard tomorrow.

 

 

random

random

 

Its the broom cupboard, you may be too young.

 

Btw are you missing a pair of pants? I found a random pair in my washing.

Btw are you missing a pair of pants? I found a random pair in my washing.

 

WTF?

 

I fucking hope not!

WTF?

 

I fucking hope not!

 

If its not yours it may be jagerdeens then

If its not yours it may be jagerdeens then

 

Aye aye 

Its the broom cupboard, you may be too young.

 

Btw are you missing a pair of pants? I found a random pair in my washing.

 

I dread to think.....

Do you have to wash your dirty linen in public?

go and stand in the corner and think about what you just said

I was gonna let this one pass. But ... Mizer, why do you currently posess a pair of pants that either belong to TopCorner or Jaegerdeen? Is there some sort of horny ménage à trois going on here that you'd like to share amongst us?

 

 

I was gonna let this one pass. But ... Mizer, why do you currently possess a pair of pants that either belong to TopCorner or Jaegerdeen? Is there some sort of horny ménage à trois going on here that you'd like to share amongst us?

 

 

 

They're gay.

Tommy Wright is due to sign today at 10:00 so expect a broom cupboard photo within the next hour.