Newsletter #309

Well, the errant Buzzer Jnr has finally signed; he might have got himself an extended and more lucrative contract, but he’s hardly endeared himself to the fans. Also on the transfer front, Beags has departed to Bradford and City seem keen on Ole Martin Årst; we have some depressing opinion on the latter, straight from Norway!

The rest of the issue is dedicated to shirts – a major topic of the moment – and additionally, there’s a video review, some opinion and a Why Blue.

NEWS – BUZZER BOOST

The following is reproduced verbatim from the MUEN July 1st 1997

Headlined “Buzzer boost for City”

Nicky Summerbee is set to give Manchester City an eve-of-season boost by agreeing a new contract. The 25-year-old winger has reached the end of a 3-year contract is now on the verge of accepting a new deal for the same period (sic).

City had been worried that Summerbee would take up an invitation to have trials with French club Bordeaux and moved quickly to head them off. “We are very close to agreement,” said manager Frank Clark. “The Bosman ruling is becoming a nightmare for clubs as players can just walk away without a fee being involved. The deal with Nicky is virtually agreed. He has turned down the move to Bordeaux.”

Summerbee joined City 3 years ago for £1.5 million from Swindon and was voted by fans as the player whose form improved most last season.

Peter Beagrie has turned down a move to Summerbee’s former club after City and Swindon agreed a cut-price deal for a winger whose career over the past couple of seasons was seriously damaged by injuries.

Beagrie has been offered a new contract by City but was among 5 players told they could leave. Alan Kernaghan, Nigel Clough, Gerry Creaney and John Foster are all attracting interest.

City were back in pre-season training today and that gave new boys Gerard Weikens, the capture from Holland, and former Ipswich defender Tony Vaughan the opportunity to meet up with their new teammates.

Internationals Georgi Kinkladze, Kevin Horlock and Jeff Whitley were told they could delay their return.

New youth supremo Jim Cassell, from Oldham, and ex-Wolves coach Ian Miller also took up their jobs today.

NEWS – KAPPA KIT

The new Kappa home kit is proving to be more popular than expected, the City Stores selling out of adult sized shirts by mid-afternoon on the first day of sale.

Nicky Summerbee looks set to sign a new 3-year deal with City after turning down a move to Bordeaux. Frank Clark said: “We are very close to agreement. The Bosman ruling is becoming a nightmare for clubs as players can just walk away without a fee being involved. The deal with Nicky is virtually agreed.”

Peter Beagrie has also turned down a move, this time to Swindon Town. The clubs had agreed a fee but he couldn’t agree personal terms with Steve McMahon’s club.

Former City player Gary Megson has been appointed manager of First Division rivals Stockport County.

Stop Press: According to CityNet, Nicky Summerbee has signed a new deal with the Blues. Speaking on Monday Frank Clark stressed how keen he was to keep the winger, who on his day can be a class act and the perfect foil for Gio Kinkladze.

SHIRTS – THE OFFICIAL NEWS

Here’s an official press release (from CityNet) regarding kit sales:

1st July 1997

The City Stores have today made record sales, with well over 3500 of the brilliant new Kappa home shirts being sold in the first day of trading.

The kits have been selling fantastically, while advance orders have also been well over the club’s expectations.

However, because of the theft of shirts from a Kappa lorry last week, the quantity of large, x-large and y-large shirts fell short of initial delivery expectations. This factor, which has been compounded by the incredible first-day demand for the highly sought after Kappa home kit, has meant that the club have already sold out of large, x-large and y-large shirts.

The Club expect their next delivery in time for the weekend, so fans will be able to purchase these shirts direct from the City Stores, Arndale Centre and Maine Road on Saturday 5th July.

After the weekend if the demand is still so high for the home strip, the City Stores will be putting in another order for the home strip which will take a further two weeks to arrive.

Manchester City Football Club apologise unreservedly to all fans who intended to purchase a strip today (Tuesday) or tomorrow but have been unable to.

NEWS – BEAGRIE TO BRADFORD

Peter Beagrie has joined Bradford City for £200,000 (though teletext reported the fee as £50,000!) and will no doubt be back to haunt us in the forthcoming season.

NEWS – SHOCK RESIGNATION

I hereby wish to tender my resignation as ‘manager’ of the MCIVTA Internet Football Team (aka Denis Law F.C.), from this date, Tuesday 1 July 1997.

I will still act as contact until a replacement is found.

EULOGY!

I would like to register a vote of thanks from the the muddied, slightly bloodied Euronet 6 to Martin for all of his efforts, especially managing to hold together the “team” all the way to the quarter finals. His short report did not do justice to the mammoth effort put in against all the odds!

NEWS – LATEST

City are set to look to Scandinavia for a new striker now that Shota Arveladze has rejected a move to Manchester. Alan Hill will be watching Troms