George Burley has denied that Malcolm Webster may be joining Richard Wright at Arsenal. Tabloid stories at the weekend claimed that the Wright deal was set to stall as the keeper tried to persuade Arsenal to bring his coach to Highbury along with him.
The Town boss, away this weekend scouting, also refuted earlier stories suggesting that the deal wouldn't go through as Arsenal were still interested in Feyenoord's Jerzy Dudek. Of the Webster situation Burley said: "There is no question of Malcolm Webster leaving Portman Road."
Wright is back from his holiday tomorrow and his joining Arsenal seems a formality. Meanwhile, Town hope that Andy Marshall will join them this week, Burley again: "Hopefully everything will be tied up in the next day or two."
Town's Masters ended their first stab at the over-35s six-a-side tournament disappointed at the Nottingham Arena last night. Although Town only lost to the eventual winners Coventry a complete absence of goals led to an early exit.
Town's first match with Aston Villa ended in a 0-0 draw, the first in Masters football history. Town, playing in the old seventies away strip of yellow with blue shorts, could point to a number of missed chances and a blatant penalty which referee Kevin Lynch failed to award. No surprise there then.
Town's best opportunity came with just a few seconds left on the clock when a fine interchange between Simon Milton and Bontcho Guentchev saw the Bulgarian through on goal only for his effort to be closed down by keeper Kevin Poole.
Earlier Trevor Putney had been unlucky when running in on goal. The carpet pitch tripped him up when in a promising position. The surface was a hazard all night with yards of tape keeping the it down, but with it coming loose regularly. Apparently the Nottingham Arena is the most difficult place to set up the Masters pitch as it is basically an ice-rink. Equally irritating was the Century Radio compare who seemed to have a very vague grasp on the rules of the competition and which goalkeeper was which.
Town's second game was again a case of missed chances with Guentchev, Milton and Steve McCall all guilty of bad misses. Town also failed to hit enough speculative shots from outside the area, a tactic that eventually won the tournament for their opponents Coventry. After the first half had been goalless Coventry scored two in the second period to eliminate Town. Coventry went on to beat Villa in their final group game before they beat Derby, probably the best side on the night, in the final.
The more impressive Town performers were Simon Milton who buzzed about a lot, Bontcho Guentchev who made some excellent passes, although his finishing was lacking on a couple of occasions. At the back Russell Osman was solid and he read the game excellently. Had Town's luck been different and had we had a referee who wasn't Kevin Lynch Town might have done better.
Town's side was as follows, Kevin Wilson was replaced at the last minute by Irvin Gernon. Squad: Jon Hallworth, Mark Brennan, Ian Atkins, Russell Osman, Trevor Putney, Steve McCall, Simon Milton, Bontcho Guentchev, David Lowe and Irvin Gernon.