Wolverhampton Wanderers

McNamara makes switch to Wolves
Wolves have completed the signing of Celtic captain Jackie McNamara on a two-year contract. The Scotland defender turned down a late offer from Celtic to end his 10-year association with the club. "I want to play in the Premiership and as far as I'm concerned, Wolves are a Premiership club in the wrong division," said 31-year-old McNamara. "Celtic went into overdrive to keep Jackie and we see this as a massive coup," said Wolves chief Jez Moxey. New Celtic manager Gordon Strachan voiced his desire to keep McNamara at the club but the player was upset at the club's sluggish response. "I gave Celtic an opportunity to sign me to a new contract but I was a little surprised and disappointed it took them so long," admitted McNamara. "It could have all been started before the end of last season and if we'd started talking then, I don't think I'd be with Wolves now, two weeks before the start of pre-season. "But it took them a long time to make me an offer whereas Wolves made me feel important to their plans, they showed a great interest. "I told Celtic I was leaving and they spoke to me as I travelled down but I'd already given my word to Wolves. "Once I gave my word to Wolves that was it. I was coming down for my medical and then I was going to sign. "There's no ill will towards Celtic though. "I have a great affection and always will have for the place and the people and the club itself." McNamara lifted the Scottish Cup for the third time last month and picked up four championships and three League Cups during his time at Celtic Park. A statement on the Celtic websitet read: "We offered Jackie a greatly improved deal and, contrary to reports, we offered Jackie a two-year contract. "Naturally, we are disappointed that Jackie has chosen not to accept our offer but this is clearly his prerogative to do so."

Hoddle the key to McNamara deal
Jackie McNamara has revealed that manager Glenn Hoddle was a major factor in his decision to join Wolves. "Glenn Hoddle being here was a big factor in me joining," said McNamara. "I spoke to him and was very impressed with what he said. "He told me about the style of football he wants to play, his ambitions of getting in the Premier League and a few other players he has got his eye on. "It is a massive thing for me to play for a manager like Glenn."

McNamara fury over Celtic claims
Jackie McNamara says Celtic are harming his reputation by suggesting he moved to Wolves purely to earn more money. The Scotland defender signed a two-year deal at Molineux this week, claiming that the Bhoys had not done enough to extend his 10-year stay at Parkhead. Celtic hit back by saying they made a lucrative new offer to the 31-year-old after he issued them with an ultimatum. But McNamara told the Daily Record: "I feel my name has been dragged through the mud to spare Celtic's blushes." He added: "My move to Wolves has nothing to do with hard cash. I'm going to Molineux for the same money I got in my last season at Celtic Park." McNamara, who made just under 350 appearances for the Bhoys after joining from Dunfermline in 1995, is particlarly unhappy with Peter Lawwell. He claims the chief executive went back on ex-boss Martin O'Neill's promise to increase his wages. The former Celtic skipper also accused Lawwell and the club of taking too long to come up with a new offer. "I felt I was being used when it took the club until 3 June to come up with their first formal offer," McNamara insisted. "Peter Lawwell waited until I was on my way to have my medical at Molineux to come on with a proposition. "I'm not going to be accused of holding the club to ransom. Celtic's chief executive is trying to take the heat off the club and portray me as greedy. "That's simply not true. I would still have been short of the top earners at the club. "I could have left three times before that but stayed and had accepted wages that were less than half the squad were getting."

Wolves hold out for Miller offer
Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey is holding out for an improved offer from Sunderland for striker Kenny Miller. The Black Cats have already had two offers in the region of £1m for the 25-year-old - but Wolves want £2m. Moxey told the Express and Star newspaper: "Our situation with Kenny is unchanged. We want him to stay. "His 20 goals for us next season, and what they could mean to us in terms of promotion, are more valuable than the money Sunderland are offering."

Camara poised to make Wolves exit
Henri Camara will leave Wolves within days, according to his agent. Senegal striker Camara, who had loan spells at Celtic and Southampton last season, is scheduled to report back for pre-season training on 27 June. But Willie McKay told the Wolverhampton Express and Star he may depart, with Portsmouth and Blackburn linked to him. He said: "There are three clubs interested in signing Henri and I think he will be gone by the time Wolves' pre-season training begins." Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey said no bids had been received as yet and warned Camara will not be sold on the cheap. "Camara has made his position clear and it is best for everyone that he moves on," he said. "But he will not be sold for a deal which does not satisfy Wolverhampton Wanderers."

Connor stays loyal to boss Hoddle
Wolves reserve-team coach Terry Connor has turned down Bristol City's offer to become the club's first-team coach. Connor played for City for one season in the early 1990s and he later went back to Ashton Gate to work as a coach. He opted against the City move after talking to Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey and boss Glenn Hoddle. Connor told the Wolves website: "I've been a coach at City before but I didn't feel it was right thing for me to do to return at this time."

Blades recruit Nix and Mulligan
Sheffield United have recruited two young players on one-year contracts from other clubs' academies. Australian-born midfielder Kyle Nix, 19, joins from Aston Villa and is an England Under-19 international. Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker or centre-back Gary Mulligan, 20, was just released by Wolves and had a loan spell at Rushden & Diamonds last season. "This is a great opportunity for both lads, who have shown promise," boss Neil Warnock told the club website. "I have watched Mulligan a few times and he was the best player on the park in those games, while Nix did well when we had him at the end of last season." The Blades have also offered professional contracts to six players from their own academy - Stephen Quinn, Travis Binnion, Ryan Gyaki, Colin Marrison, Kyle McFadzean and Nick Travis.

Ricketts pleased to rejoin Hoddle
New signing Rohan Ricketts is glad to be working with Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle again, after completing his free transfer move from Tottenham. Reflecting on the start of pre-season, he told the club website: "I've worked with the gaffer before, so I knew it was going to be a very hard week. "We've been doing double sessions. Next week in Spain, we will do three a day - Glenn did something similar at Spurs. "It's pretty intense - but we all know that it will be beneficial."

Wolves hit by injury to Lescott
Wolves defender Joleon Lescott has been pulled out of pre-season training so he can have treatment on a knee problem. Lescott, 22, missed the entire 2003-04 season with knee injuries. Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle told the club website: "Jo was feeling a tightness around the knee and we've pulled him out of training for treatment. "It's important that he is fully fit for when the season starts and any problems sorted out now rather then when the season kicks-off in August."

McCarthy drops interest in Miller
Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has ended his pursuit of Wolves striker Kenny Miller after having two offers for the Scottish international rejected. The Black Cats manager put in bids of £1m and £1.2m for the 25-year-old forward, who is on the transfer list at his own request. McCarthy said: "We made a bid, it has been turned down and that is it. "We are not planning on going back and offering any more money, so as far as I am concerned, it is finished with." Wolves are keen to keep Miller - even if it means losing him on a free next summer when his contract runs out. McCarthy, who has spent almost £2m on strikers Jon Stead and Daryl Murphy this summer, is refusing to meet Wolves' £2m valuation of the player. The Black Cats boss has already missed out on Watford's Heidar Helguson, who opted to join Fulham, and Portsmouth striker Ricardo Fuller, who failed a medical. "I am still looking for players," he added. "I am not going to suggest who I am looking at or what position I am looking at because if I do, I will have every agent ringing up. "I am still looking around, but if the season was starting on Saturday, I would be happy to start with what I have got. "With the transfer window, it is a different ball game this year. We need a good squad of players. "If we do get problems, injuries, suspensions, we cannot replace any this year, so I am still looking at it." McCarthy has been boosted by the return of Scottish international Kevin Kyle to training. Kyle is hopeful of avoiding a second operation on a long-standing hip cartilage problem. "He is training, so we will just see how he is," said McCarthy. "That is all we can do. He is training and we will just take it on a daily basis and see how he is. "I hope he will be magnificent this season and fully fit, but at the minute, he is training and he is OK. He is getting through it, he is fine. I have not planned beyond that." McCarthy is unsure whether Kyle will make their pre-season tour of North America next week, but transfer-listed duo Sean Thornton and Michael Bridges will not make the trip. The manager is also waiting to see whether to offer a new deal to out-of-contract midfielder Colin Healy, who has been out of action since breaking his leg in December 2003.

Wolves' Idiakez bids are rejected
Wolves have confirmed they have had two bids for Derby County midfielder Inigo Idiakez turned down by the Rams. The offers for the 30-year-old are believed to be in the region of £500,000 and £750,000 and Wolves are considering a third bid for Idiakez. "It is not our wish to do business in public but two separate and written offers were made for Idiakez," a Wolves spokesman told the Express and Star. Derby boss Phil Brown added: "Inigo is not for sale and I'll try to keep him." He added: "I'm not aware of this being a recent bid. "I am aware that there was interest in him at the end of last season but I was not the manager then. "Since then I have had a conversation with Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle but not had any official bid from them." Brown also dismissed speculation linking him with Sunderland striker Michael Bridges.

Wolves reject offers for Clingan
Wolves have turned down two bids for midfielder Sammy Clingan from Chesterfield and Doncaster. Chief executive Jez Moxey told the club's website: "We have received bids worth £50,000 for Sammy. "But we are not prepared to let a player, who we have invested so much time in developing through our youth ranks, go for such a fee." The 21-year-old went on loan to Chesterfield last season, where he made 15 appearances and scored twice.

Hoddle backing Wycombe to go up
Glenn Hoddle is backing his former assistant John Gorman to lead Wycombe to promotion this season, after they beat Hoddle's Wolves 1-0 in a friendly. Wanderers manager Gorman was Hoddle's assistant at Swindon, Chelsea, England, Southampton and Tottenham. "They showed their teeth in the second half and played very well. I'm sure John is going to have a very good season," Hoddle told Wycombe's website. "It would be great if both Wycombe and ourselves gained promotion this year."

Gyepes set for trial with Wolves
Hungary international defender Gabor Gyepes is set to begin a four-day trial at Wolverhampton on Monday. Manager Glenn Hoddle has been on the look-out for defensive cover throughout the summer and has handed Gyepes the chance to seal a permanent deal. The 24-year-old has made 112 appearances for Ferencvaros since 1999 and won 18 caps for Hungary. Hoddle is also hoping to sign Derby midfielder Inigo Idiakez, as well as two unnamed Premiership players.

Spireites fail in new Clingan bid
Chesterfield have failed in a renewed bid to sign Sammy Clingan from Wolves. The Spireites have made three separate offers for the 21-year-old midfielder, who had a successful loan spell at Saltergate last season. "I am very disappointed our improved offer has been rejected. We can't hang about and are looking at alternatives," McFarland told his club's website. Clingan is yet to make a first-team appearance at Wolves but scored twice in 15 league games for Chesterfield.

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