x

Wright Fee £2m - Ipswich Town News

A report in today's Daily Mail reveals that Town received just £2m for Richard Wright when he left Portman Road for Arsenal in the summer of 2001.

An investigation into the transfer involvement of agent Darren Dein, son of Arsenal chief David Dein, claims that Wright's agent Jonathan Barnett received £520,000 commission in the deal, a figure said to be 20% of the overall amount paid by Arsenal.

TWTD has long understood the fee to be well below the £5m-£6m often quoted and Town's accounts for the year 2001/02 confirmed this, declaring the club's transfer income during that period to be £6m which covers the fees received for James Scowcroft and Wright.

After protracted contract negotiations with the Blues during the summer of 2000, Wright finally signed a one-year extension to his deal at Portman Road.

When Arsenal's bid came in the summer of 2001 it became clear that Wright and his agent had the club over a barrel, with the keeper out of contract a year later.

The 2000 negotiations had seen a clause inserted stating that Wright had to be allowed to talk to certain named clubs if they came in with a bid of above a certain level. Presumably that figure was £2 million.

What to read next:

Oudnie-Morgan Joins King's Lynn on Loan
Blues forward Rio Oudnie-Morgan has joined National League North King’s Lynn Town on an initial one-month loan.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Ireland Travel to Czechia, Wales Host Bosnians and Swedes in Ukraine in World Cup Play-Offs
The Republic of Ireland will travel to face Czechia in their World Cup qualification play-off semi-final, while Wales will host Bosnia & Herzegovina in theirs and Sweden are away yo Ukraine, the draw having taken place at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland this lunchtime.
Youth Cup Date Set
Town’s FA Youth Cup third round tie away against Sheffield United has been set for Thursday 11th December at Bramall Lane (KO 7pm).
Hirst: Childhood Dream to Go to a World Cup
Blues striker George Hirst says Scotland qualifying for the World Cup is a childhood dream, Steve Clarke’s side having secured their spot at next summer’s finals via a remarkable 4-2 victory over 10-man Denmark on Tuesday evening at Hampden Park, netting twice in injury time to claim the three points they needed to top the group.
Knapper: Selling Nunez to Town the Right Decision
Norwich City sporting director Ben Knapper has insisted selling midfielder Marcelino Nunez to the Blues in the summer was the right decision.
Walle Egeli: When I Heard Ipswich, It Was Clear That Was Where I Wanted to Go
Town forward Sindre Walle Egeli says his eyes were set on Portman Road from the moment the Blues showed an interest over the summer transfer window.
[Podcast] Life's a Pitch TV - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Life's a Pitch TV team is now available.
Schwartz: Resources Will Be Available in January
Ed Schwartz, CEO of ORG, the majority shareholder in the Blues, says the there will be resources made available for whatever is needed to be done during the January transfer window.
Ashton: We Must Shape the Regulator
Blues CEO and chairman Mark Ashton believes football should shape the new independent regulator and revealed that the governing bodies use Town’s ownership as an example of how they would like clubs to be run.