Carlisle Utd boss Abbott attacks Watford over Graham tribunal
Last updated at 07:57, Friday, 24 July 2009
Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott has accused Championship club Watford of a lack of “etiquette” in the increasingly bitter Danny Graham transfer saga.
The Hornets and United were due to meet at a Football League tribunal on Monday where the fee for striker Graham’s switch to Vicarage Road would be set.
But the hearing has now been postponed at Watford’s request as it clashed with a friendly they are playing in Spain on that day.
It means Carlisle face a frustrating wait to get their hands on a potential six-figure sum – some of which has been earmarked by Abbott for squad strengthening.
“It is very frustrating because Watford have already done their business and left us hanging,” the Blues manager said.
“I’m not sure it is good etiquette. They have chosen to do it that way, but it leaves our club not knowing what money we are going to get from the sale, and I don’t know how much I am going to have available for transfers.
“Watford haven’t broken any rules but, from an etiquette point of view, it is not good for us.”
Abbott, whose side host Graham’s former club Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly tomorrow (Brunton Park, 3pm), is keen to sign a striker to replace last term’s 16-goal top scorer, who rejected a new contract at the end of the season in favour of joining the Hornets.
United, who rejected Huddersfield’s £250,000 bid for Graham in January, are entitled to a fee for the forward as he was under 24 when he clinched his move to the Championship club.
Watford offered the Cumbrians £25,000 in compensation after completing the signing of Graham, which was immediately dismissed by the Brunton Park hierarchy. United have been assured the tribunal will sit before the season starts on August 8.
It now seems likely that Carlisle will be forced to get through most of their pre-season fixtures without the goalscorer Abbott is trying to recruit in the transfer market, leaving the manager to rely on Scott Dobie, Joe Anyinsah and Gary Madine as his main frontline options.
They should all feature against Gareth Southgate’s relegated Boro side tomorrow in a game which Abbott expects to be even tougher than Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to Premier League outfit Hull City, when new signing Matty Robson marked his home debut with his first United goal.
“Middlesbrough will still be smarting from last season,” said the Abbott, who was attending a League Managers’ Association meeting at Huddersfield yesterday.
“They will be well aware of the difficult job they have got to get back into the Premier League, and I expect there will be a big determination about their game.”
Boro will be without injured stars Tuncay and Afonso Alves tomorrow but should include the likes of Jeremie Aliadiere, Julio Arca, Robert Huth, Adam Johnson and David Wheater, along with new signings Mark Yeates and Danny Coyne.
Abbott will himself field a strong side, with player-coach Graham Kavanagh the only absentee as he waits to see a second specialist over the shoulder tendon injury which kept him out of the Hull clash.
“Kav doesn’t know exactly the cause of it but he is in a bit of discomfort,” said Abbott. “He has had a shoulder operation in the past and we need to find out whether it is connected to that.”
Gavin Rothery, who had stitches in a foot injury after last Friday’s friendly at Margate, should return tomorrow.
- United this week wiped £100,000 off their £1.5 million debt to former owner Fred Story after agreeing a sponsorship deal with Story Homes for the East Stand at Brunton Park.
It will be known as the Story Homes Stand for the next five years. The stand’s previous sponsors, the Cumberland Building Society, are now sponsoring the A Stand.
- Tickets for United’s first League One game against Brentford on August 8 go on sale on Monday, along with tickets for the Carling Cup first round tie against Oldham on August 11.
First published at 05:17, Friday, 24 July 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
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Matt, what I can't understand is the lack of respect shown by watford to us. Who cares if you are on pre-season in spain surely you new this 3 weeks ago when you signed danny? Surely this has nothing to do with the squad in spain when its the chairman/owner who will be paying the fee. What you are doing is wrong and quite frankly the way you are handling yourselfs as a club stinks. I hope the panel sting you for a 500k fee. Just remember the grass isn't always greener on the other side and it wasn't to long ago both our teams were playing each other and I'm sure we will again soon.
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As I understand it we asked the tribunal to be moved before we went on pre season,as their was a slight problem with Grahams medical that needed to be ironed out,so the signing of him took a further 9 days,and their was a possability we were going to send the player back.Also in regards to the tribunal you won't get anywhere near £250k because you purchased him on a free yourselfs and he didn't come through your academy,so no money was spent on him.You will proberly get a max of £100k which would include add-on's and a sell on fee.Tribunals are a farst,just ask c/palace fans when spurs got their player for a "price of a packet of crisps" as quoted by sismon Jordon.
Posted by Tony on 24 July 2009 at 18:37