Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that keeper Márton Fülöp has joined West Brom on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal. The Hungarian was left out of the Blues 16 for today’s victory at Bristol City with stories linking him with the Baggies having surfaced earlier in the week.

Jewell said: “He’s gone to West Brom on a free transfer. We wish Márton well but I think David Stockdale was quality today. He made a great save at a vital time and has terrific distribution of the ball.

“We’re a little bit on tenterhooks with David because of the recall, so it’s always a bit of a concern. It’s a chance that we can take and it will work out for us.”

The Blues boss says he expects Fülöp to battle Ben Foster for his place in the side at the Hawthorns: “I don’t know whether he’s going to get in the team ahead of Ben Foster but if you’re going to play second fiddle to someone, you may as well do that in the Premier League.

“His contract’s running out and to be fair to Márton he does want to play and he will push Ben Foster all the way. He’s a good goalkeeper. But it was a deal which we felt was right for us and the player wanted to do it.”

Jewell confirmed that he will be on the search for a replacement: “We’ll be looking for a goalkeeper, so it’s an ongoing situation.”

Arran Lee-Barrett is Town’s other senior keeper, while US U20 international Cody Cropper was recently given a one-year professional contract but has not been allocated a squad number and is not yet thought ready for first team involvement.

Photo: Action Images

Tillz9 added 17:27 - Aug 6 Free transfer ??? Surely we could have got some sort of fee for him.
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Eggroy added 17:27 - Aug 6 Bit disappointed this was a free, however fair play to us for respecting the fact Marton wants to play football. Good luck all the same.
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Kaa619 added 17:31 - Aug 6 Free transfer is a joke! And there is no way Fulop will push Foster all the way. He'll be lucky if he gets a game
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TractorMan added 17:32 - Aug 6 Savings on wages across a year better than a fee. Out of contract in summer so never going to get anything for him.
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Garv added 17:33 - Aug 6 Hmm, replacement I would expect should be an upcoming young keeper on small wages, if not why bother getting rid of Fulop only to replace him with someone on the same wages? Great result today!
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groovyASH added 17:34 - Aug 6 He was one of our highest wage-earners so I think this isn't such a bad deal for us. Good luck to him!
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SuttonTB added 17:35 - Aug 6 Good luck and many thanks Marton. Am guessing that he was an expensive bench warmer. Hopefully we have someone lined up to replace him and not another loanee. I would have thought that we could have got some money for him, that's two players the Baggies have had from us now. Very astitute Roy Hodgson.
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CanadianBlue added 17:37 - Aug 6 Disappointed that we didn't get a fee for him. 750k to bring him here plus wages and we've let him go? Seems like a bad business deal for us. Still, credit to Town for respecting the players wishes and all the best to Fulop. Hopefully the money saved in his wages can bring us a few more on a free. Wouldn't mind R.Wright as a back-up and C.Hogg is still available on a free as a back-up/first team contender CB...

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TractorMan added 17:40 - Aug 6 We're saving around £750k on wages, which can be used to pay Andrews and a cheaper, young keeper who will be happy learning off Stockdale.
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village_blue added 17:41 - Aug 6 We have just paid WBA £750,000 to to take a very shaky goalkeeper on.Thanks a lot Marton for your efforts but think you will struggle to get a first team place. Just assume that Wrighty is waiting to get a call now.
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flashblue added 17:41 - Aug 6 Wright will accept 3k per week and be an asset in training. Go for it!
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BiGDonnie added 17:45 - Aug 6 Get Richard Wright back, the perfect back up.
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itfc1981 added 17:45 - Aug 6 I would be happy if Miskin and the Pie Man went on free's as well.
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BlueArmy01 added 17:46 - Aug 6 Fulop was highest paid player at Town a reported 20k a week plus clean sheet win bonus etc(not that he had too many of them) so £1million saved, Wright for much less.
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jamesmostevens added 17:53 - Aug 6 Ludicrous that he was our highest paid player. Looked good at times and I was glad when he joined and provided my fantasy footie team name for a year: Fulop O'Tential. With Sporting Lisbien a previous poor effort I will not curse any new arrivals this year.
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davidjbrooks34 added 18:10 - Aug 6 Fulop did not inspire confidence in me, so pleased to see him leave. Amazed to see that he was on that high a wage (if true) - another truly awful bit of business from Mr Keane - what an utterly useless manager that bloke was. Obviously we are a bit exposed now if Stockdale gets the call back - although to be honest ALB did show some potential in the past.
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Mark added 18:14 - Aug 6 A free transfer is a surprise and it backs up the theory that he was indeed our highest paid player. If the £20K-a-week is true, and with a fee of £750K to £1M reported, he cost us around £2M just for one year. Another tragic waste of money by Roy Keane at a time when funds were tight. The more I look back on that regime the more awful it was. Anyway, Fulop has gone now and we can look to bring in a much cheaper alternative for a backup goalkeeper who could easily become number one if Stockdale is recalled at short notice. Richard Wright would seem to fit the bill perfectly. We could let him play the cup games, starting Tuesday!

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StochesStotasBlewe added 18:41 - Aug 6 Good luck Marton. Another high wage earner off the books. Get Wrighty back asap as back up.
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parkinshair added 18:47 - Aug 6 Despite his well documented frailty's as a keeper. I liked Fulop for his enthusiasm. Always made a point of giving a big thumbs up to the crowd at the start of the match and always came across as genuinely delighted when we won. i wish him good luck and all the best for the future.
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Marcus added 19:12 - Aug 6 @parkinshair - a friendly personality doesn't make a top player. Fred Barber endeared himself to the crowd but nobody would call him the best keeper in the recent history of the club. But also, to be fair, he did well while we had him on loan. I'd also like to see him do well elsewhere but fear that he'll be a bench warmer.
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TractorMan added 19:20 - Aug 6 Said already on the forum, Mike Pollitt has a release clause in his Wigan contract for free transfer if another club comes in. 4th choice at Wigan and wants to get into coaching. He'll come in and work with Webster before taking over from him in January as Player/coach.
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3_5_2 added 19:59 - Aug 6 Parkinshair Ignore the fact he was a shaky keeper who was crap at coming for crosses at least he gave a thumbs up when we won (which wasn't very often) I too would look pleased if we won and I got a win bonus Good business getting his wages off the bill and available for a decent right back or Keith Andrews etc
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Tractamatt added 20:06 - Aug 6 I think now would be the time to splash some cash and sign scott loach
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ITFC_Budapest added 20:15 - Aug 6 Massive mistake letting him go, we now have only one decent keeper who is on loan, if he is recalled or injured then we could have big problems!
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wrightyblue added 20:18 - Aug 6 Very very strange decision! He has a year left on his contract! And we have ALB the only GK on a perm contract! So stockdale get recalled we r screwed! But great result to day blue boys
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