Troubled City Turn On Allardyce

Last updated : 13 June 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Wardle and his board were rocked on Monday when prospective buyer Thaksin Shinawatra's assets were frozen by the Thai government in a corruption investigation into the former Prime Minister's activities before he was removed in a bloodless coup last year.

Since that bombshell from Bangkok, Shinawatra's legal and financial team have been working to convince Wardle that the £100m bid for the club can still go ahead.

Negotiations have continued over the last 24 hours to save the deal from collapse.

And now under pressure Wardle and Manchester City have hit back at Sam Allardyce in the growing row over Joey Barton's transfer to Newcastle after another eventful day at Eastlands.

City are angry that the Newcastle chief has suggested that details of Barton's contract had been leaked by the club.

The uproar is over the clause in the midfielder's contract which governs the so far unpaid £300,000 signing-on fee, which has resulted in the deal not being completed a week after the transfer was believed to have been agreed on Tyneside.

The Professional Footballers' Association are now involved as mediators in the row, with City claiming Barton effectively asked for a transfer by triggering the contract clause that allowed him to speak to clubs that offered £5.5million.

The £300,000 can only be paid if Barton did not ask for a move.

Allardyce: "They (City) are out of order. This is a private matter, a confidential issue that should not have been made public.

"I'm flabbergasted and want the situation resolved. I'm just trying, as Newcastle manager, to secure a player of this kind and quality and the deal has been held up.

"I can't understand it because City didn't pay anything for this player as he came through the youth system, and they are selling him for over £5m.

"But it is not really for me to comment. All I know is that this is a matter for Joey to sort out and I hope it is resolved as it has stopped him putting pen to paper."

City spokesman Paul Tyrrell: "At no time have we divulged the details of Joey's contract, or would we ever do so with any player.

"Sadly this is now in the public domain through no fault of Manchester City.

"It is disappointing that Sam Allardyce has chosen to make these claims public. We will continue to have a good relationship with Newcastle."