Part One - On the Pitch
http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8410348Few mentions of Patron Power but unbelievable stuff that really makes you think what were they doing particularly with Dean Sturridge.
Speaking of thirty plus year olds looking for a pay day, I want to talk about Dean Sturridge, well I don't but I suppose we better discuss it. Did Dean Sturridge go through a medical examination before signing for the club?
Well last season, at the time we were still in with a chance of making the play offs with a good run. Ian Holloway wanted Hayles from Millwall but we couldn't get him, so we had a report about Sturridge and Holloway was keen to get him signed up.
I tried to do a deal with Wolves, you know their guy Moxey, to get him on loan until the end of the season, three months.
This seemed fine but then at the last minute I got a call very early in the morning saying Dean wouldn't come on loan unless he got a deal for another year afterwards.
I spoke to Jim Smith (Sturridge's manager at Derby) and he highly recommended against it. He said if we signed him for a year he'll waste our money. Jim says you need to keep Sturridge hungry.
Holloway wanted him though, the transfer deadline was getting close so the pressure was on to get a deal done.
We spoke to Wolves' medical people about him and they said we could put him right. There was nothing major wrong with him and we'd be able to sort him out. I took him to Italy and everywhere trying to get him fit, it was no good.
So did he have a medical before he signed?
No.
How much has Dean Sturridge cost us over the last 18 months?
One hundred and eighty thousand pounds. We've made him offers to end the deal and get rid of him but he doesn't want to know. We offered him fifty thousand in January and he turned it down. His contract finishes next month, he'll be gone.
Holloway doesn't come out to favourably, nothing to bad and there's always two sides to every story. Interesting snippet on Holloway as well..
We're going to have to pay him off now aren't we?
Hopefully not, I'm very hopeful he will have a job soon. All the signs are good that he will.
I'd really suggest reading the rest there's even mention of Ramon Diaz!
