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OWLS: Coventry set to seal deal for Sheffield Wednesday star

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Published Date: 18 November 2009
By Paul Thompson
COVENTRY today neared the finishing line in the race for Richard Wood - but were looking over their shoulders in case there is a late surge from Ipswich.
The Owls defender had talks at Coventry yesterday and was paying a second visit there today.

The Sky Blues are believed to be keen to get their man before Ipswich - the Owls' opponents on Saturday - push their interest further.

But the signs are that Wood will join Coventry within the next 24 hours.

Accompanied by his agent, he visited the club's training ground yesterday and met manager Chris Coleman, his staff and some of the players.

Wood was also shown around the Ricoh Arena and had talks with Coventry chairman Ray Ranson.

Personal terms have been discussed, and there is a possibility that the centre half will have a medical today.

He is set to join the Sky Blues initially on loan which would followed by a full transfer and an estimated fee of £500,000 in January.

Ipswich are known to have retained an interest in him, after they made an unsuccessful approach to the Owls in August

Brian Laws is waiting for Wood's exit to be confirmed before pressing ahead with his plans to bring in one or two loan players, with one of his targets a striker.

Ipswich have reported on their website that Tommy Smith and Gareth McAuley are likely to be fit for Saturday - and they claim that Owls and former Ipswich midfielder Tommy Miller will miss the game because of a hamstring injury suffered in training.

Wednesday look set to stick with the centre-back partnership of Richard Hinds and Lewis Buxton; Wood has been out of the side, and captain Darren Purse has been unfit for the last two games.

Owls winger Jermaine Johnson and Barnsley forward Jamal Campbell-Ryce were both on duty as Jamaica drew 0-0 with South Africa in last night's friendly in Bloemfontein.

What do you think? Add your comments below.

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  • Last Updated: 18 November 2009 12:45 PM
  • Source: Sheffield Star
  • Location: Sheffield
 
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1

BruceLee33,

sheffield 18/11/2009 09:25:58
enjoy yourself richard at massive coventry city.
2

mick9,

18/11/2009 09:31:38
I agree that, given the way he has conducted himself, Wood should go. Shame that we always lose our best players, just when we start to get the nucleus of a decent squad together.
3

Kenn the Owl,

Driffield 18/11/2009 10:40:40
Another prize asset leaving the Owls, following the departures of Brunt and Whelan. I hope Mark Beevers is not on Laws' list of players with whom he wants to get rid of, placing Purse in a more secure position because the good players have gone. In his Q aand A sessions, Laws was asked if he influenced by the views of supporters when picking the team. He claimed he is not because he sees them on the training ground. We supporters see them on match days, which are more important and know who should be in the line up and who should not.
4

FatherTime,

18/11/2009 10:41:47
Wood should have been offered a contract extension as soon s strafford took over the running of the club £500 000 is a joke, and not a very funny one.
5

Owl2474life,

18/11/2009 11:01:16
Wood was offered a contract! and by the sounds of it a very good one, however we are in millions of pounds worth of debt and can only offer so much!This is not Brian Laws fault so stop blaming him! Thanks for the service mr Wood and hope coventry meets your ambitions!
6

owls about that,

worksop 18/11/2009 11:12:40
every one keeps going on about sheff wed should have gave wood a contract,he was offered more than double his wages to stay at hillsborough that to me sounds a good deal to tell you the truth if wood is such a good player where are the big clubs coming in to grab a bargain? there has not been any prem clubs or good championship clubs coming in for him, I must say Coventry an ipswich are no better than us, so I say if they don't want to stay and give 110% every week good riddance I say
7

we'll be back,

18/11/2009 11:42:29
well said 5 & 6!
8

Smokeyhaddock,

Didcot, Oxfordshire 18/11/2009 12:23:21
Completely agree, If Wood is such a good prospect then there would have been interest from a few premier league teams especially the lower ranked ones.
Totally proves that the move is purely for monetary gain and not ambition. If that is Wood's and Varadi's mind set then good riddance to dead wood (pardon the pun) Marcus Tudgay and Lee Grant are far better players than Wood and they showed loyalty to the Owls wioth improved contracts with Tudders even turning down a premier move. Wood will soon know the meaning of 'sent to Coventry'..................Judas!
9

dirkster,

Sheffield 18/11/2009 12:23:48
Ditto 7!

Kenn I think that when the day comes that our manager lets fans pick his team for him, that will be the day that we are well and truly, totally and irrevocably up the creek. We're not there yet, nor even close.
10

oz_owl,

18/11/2009 12:37:32
I know a few people have commented on this already but it bears repeating because so many posts are still coming up about how the club should have done more to keep Wood.

Let's be perfectly clear on this: Wood was offered a new contract last season which would have made him one of the highest paid players at the club. He turned that down and put in a transfer request. He's been offered a similar contract extension again this season and turned it down.

Both the club and Wood are in the right here:
1) The club have tried to keep one of their better players without breaking their wage structure (where doing so would more than likely unsettle the squad and impair their ability to make new signings given the strict wage budget).
2) Wood (or just his agent, or both) believes he is worth more than the club are offering and he's therefore well within his rights to seek higher pay elsewhere regardless of who it's with.
3) Faced with losing a player for nothing in the Summer, the club have put Wood on the list so they can move on as quickly as possible whilst receiving some value.

I don't see how the club could have done anything differently and I have no problem with how things have worked out. Wood is not the best player at the club (not even the best defender) and he doesn't deserve to be paid like he is.
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