The increasingly bizarre Gert Verheyen Affair (or Verheyengate) has twisted a new turn today with reports suggesting Town are to be reported to FIFA over their handling of the deal/non-deal.
The tell-tales in the matter are Club Brugge whose gripe is an alleged deal struck between Town and the 30-year-old international. Verheyen was reported to have fixed personal terms with Town as long ago as on October 4th, although this was never confirmed.
If it is true that Town have negotiated with the player then the Belgians may have a case. Jacques Denolf, club secretary of Brugge, said: "We believe Ipswich have contravened Article 13 of the FIFA regulations which states that clubs cannot come into contact with a player without the permission of his club, unless it is within six months of the end of his contract."
Verheyen's current contract ends in 2004. So far there has been no comment from Town on this, but David Sheepshanks will surely attempt to defend Town's honour. The Blues have never previously been reported to FIFA regarding a matter of this type.
What happens on the subject of the transfer is now anybody's guess. Club Brugge are cross with Town, while Verheyen's relationship with his club must be at least a touch strained. However, there seems to be an underlying feeling amongst Belgians that this deal will ultimately go through.
Apparently Club Brugge have a history of soap opera-style transfers like this with a deal involving Eric Deflandre moving to Lyon taking six months and Mario Stanic's (now at Chelsea) upping sticks to Parma taking even longer. I can hardly wait.
As our enormous number of internationals return to the fold the Blues have one or two worries with fitness, although mainly with those who stayed at home. Main worry is Titus Bramble who was substituted while playing for the England U21s on Tuesday night suffering from a bad cold.
Amir Karic did his best to stay clear of injury getting himself sent off after 38 minutes for Slovenia while Matt Holland missed a day's training with Ireland on Monday but, like the rest of the travellers, is OK. Town's other injury worries are Jermaine Wright who has a groin problem, while Martijn Reuser, his most likely replacement, has an ankle injury.
Wayne Brown is once again being linked with a move to Wimbledon. For several weeks now the centre-half has been reported as being on the verge of a loan move to the Dons or Stockport County with a permanent transfer looking on the cards if he impresses.
The move has been held up by a persistant hip/groin injury which a specialist told him last week would need two weeks' rest. Brown has decided that the best place to rest himself is somewhere hot and sunny so he has jetted off to Tenerife for the week. Expect a story in the press linking him with a Spanish move in the next couple of days.