Another Change Of Story

Steve Bruce has U-turned on Matthew Upson, after spending most of the season saying he’s for sale at a price, he’s apparently not for sale at any price now.

I won’t go through all the quotes that came from Bruce and the club about ‘silly money’ being in the region of £10 million – remember Chelsea were mentioned, but now that West Ham have offered £10 million, apparently Upson is no longer for sale, despite being touted for that price.

I’m yet to get to an article yet from Curbishley who is right peeved at the change of attitude, but I can’t help thinking it’s an excuse to drive his price up even further, which if true when speaking before why say £10 million, and not say £15 or £20 million and not end up looking silly for seemingly being unable to come to a decision.

‘I can’t give a stuff if I’ve got an unhappy player or not, he is not going, full stop. Whether it’s eight, nine, 10 million pounds – it wouldn’t matter.

‘He had an agreement when he came here four years ago and he’s got to abide by that contract. It’s as simple as that.

‘We’ve put him under no pressure to sign a new contract, which we offered him. He’s made it clear he’s not going to sign it and that’s his prerogative.

‘I can understand how he feels but it’s my job to protect this club and help this club.

‘It is totally different to how it was with Savage. We were halfway up the Premier League, now we are going for the biggest prize of all.

‘If I take Upson out of it now, where does that leave us? You can’t put a price on what it would mean for this club to get back in the Premiership.

‘If anyone can treble their wages or whatever, then it’s going to be a pull. But Matt has to accept the situation. That’s my stance on it and I haven’t changed and neither have the board, they are 100 per cent in agreement.

‘I can understand Alan Curbishley might keep coming back like we did with McSheffrey and Coventry. But we always knew there was a price with McSheffrey. We always knew that Coventry needed the money.

‘Why should we sell Matt when we don’t need the money? Is it unsettling him? He’s big enough, strong enough and experienced enough to deal with it and say he understands.

‘My message is clear to Alan: it would take crazy money, and that’s not eights, nines or 10s of millions or anything like that.’