Leon Clarke! (3 Viewers)

[torchomatic]

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sp...ws/coventry-city-transfers-sky-blues-11455414

 

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[torchomatic]

Coventry City are understood to be keen to take former star striker Leon Clarke back to the Ricoh Arena if the player becomes available.

The 31-year-old still has two years left on his deal at cash-strapped Bury who have been selling their best players as they look to make dramatic cuts to balance the books at Gigg Lane.

Sources in the North West suggest two clubs have put bids in for the controversial player who left City under a cloud in January 2014 after engineering a move to Wolves, although the Telegraph understands Coventry are not one of those clubs.

Clarke, who scored 18 goals for the Shakers last term – including two goals to consign the Sky Blues to defeat last September – is believed to be on considerably more money that City can afford and the only conceivable way of getting him would be if he came to a financial agreement with Bury to cancel his contract and became a free agent. A pay-off might then off-set any shortfall in wages City could offer.

The former fans’ favourite, who struck up a prolific partnership with Callum Wilson in 2013/14 – scoring 18 before his mid-season exit – was given a hostile reception from the travelling Sky Blue Army at Gigg Lane last season when he delivered a typical response in the form of a brace to win the game 2-1.

Story link: Leon Clarke: I would have stayed at Coventry City for a bit more money

Afterwards he accepted that he had the stick coming after the way he left the club and admitted that he could have made a better job of handling his departure to home-town club Wolverhampton Wanderers. But he claimed that City passed up the opportunity to get him to stay on improved terms.

He told the Telegraph at the time that he had expected to be roundly booed “...because I didn’t leave in the best of circumstances. I upset a lot of people and I accept that. I didn’t go about it the way the fans probably wanted me to but there were a lot of things that happened behind the scenes.

 

[Senior Vick from Alicante]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. Good at this level but no trust.

 

[torchomatic]

He'll stick the ball in the net. Fine for me.

 

[ajsccfc]

I'd take him. He may swan off when he gets bored again, but our main source of goals last season were temporary anyway so there's not a huge difference in that regard.

 

[Ian1779]

I'd happily have him back tomorrow.

 

[hill83]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. Good at this level but no trust.

NO NO NO.......oh look he's scored.
And again, ooh, and again, what was I saying before?

 

[torchomatic]

I'd happily have him back tomorrow.

Well, I'd have him back today. So what does that say about you?!

 

[junglej13]

Definite yes.

 

[Ian1779]

Well, I'd have him back today. So what does that say about you?!

I was thinking of TM's budget

#selfsufficient

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

Yes. It's about results and he is proven

 

[skybluejelly]

would love him back ..23 goals in 35 games for us his record speaks for itself...but i reckon he will go to scunthorpe if anyone

 

[Alkhen]

non story, the CET are really struggling to fill pages. nowhere in that does it confirm we are interested certainly not from Leon himself as 'Man don't do press'

I'd have him back in a heart beat even tho

cant wait for some concrete stories

 

[dongonzalos]

He is a bit of a trouble maker in my opinion but despite that it's a yes from me

 

[tom88]

Man don't do press

Braaapppp

 

[skybluejelly]

non story, the CET are really struggling to fill pages. nowhere in that does it confirm we are interested certainly not from Leon himself as 'Man don't do press'

I'd have him back in a heart beat even tho

cant wait for some concrete stories

is this any good

 

[SkyBlueScottie]

yes, he would have outscored Arma this season, and seems to do well in a team where he is looked upon as a bit of a leader on the pitch. Also 23 in 34 for us and 15 in 29 for Bury.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

non story, the CET are really struggling to fill pages. nowhere in that does it confirm we are interested certainly not from Leon himself as 'Man don't do press'

I'd have him back in a heart beat even tho

cant wait for some concrete stories

From the article:

"But the Telegraph understands the player would jump at the chance to come back."

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

I believe he lives in Solihull still...might be wrong but I heard a while back that's where he lives.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Who's next? I bet they're gutted McSheffrey signed a contract with Doncaster.

The Telegraph crystal ball has linked us with Turner, Baker and Clarke so far. They must be going through the squad lists of previous seasons

 

[Kingokings204]

This won't happen but I would love Leon Clarke back. He will score goals. Sod the trust issue, no player has in the world really has loyalty anyway so what's he difference. He scores goals I don't care if he is a dick about it.

Only way would be if he lives in the area and takes a pay cut but would suit his agenda a bit like baker.

Seems a paper filling story to me

 

[Brylowes]

So if they are cash strapped, and they have two bids on the table, why would they
Effectively cancel his contract allowing him to come here for nothing.

I would take him back though.

 

[Skyblueweeman]

The only thing that would concern me is yes, he scores goals but one of the links in the article 'I would've stayed at Cov for more money'...

What a prick.

Still, if he scores goals though...

 

[chiefdave]

Strikes me as a totally made up story. You never know, maybe his agent has placed this.

As a player I'd have him back in a second but the personality side of it concerns me. Think Mowbray would have to sit down with him and discuss the manner of his departure last time round before signing him.

 

[fernandopartridge]

I can't see Mowbray signing him. Yes he did great for us but that was 2 years ago. He started last season well but faded (perhaps it was due to the death of his father). He's on the wrong side of 30 doesn't appear to fit the criteria that Mowbray and Venus have mentioned.

I am torn really, he is excellent at this level but I don't really agree with re-signing ex players just because we know who they are.

 

[steve82]

The man scores goals, but the story contradicts it self. 2 bids already received and none from us... No thing new to report so just a paper filler for me. Ain't gonna happen

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

Kieran has just said the player and the club want it to happen 100%.

 

[torchomatic]

Kieran Crowley ‏@KieranCrowley1 16s17 seconds ago
@avi_c7 @Anthony_Hornsby @SideSammy I know for a fact he wants to come back. Only here. He'll hold out I'm sure.

 

[mrtrench]

The article seems to rule it out.

1) They already turned down two offers of cash
2) The only way we could afford him is if Bury paid off his contract and we took him on a free.

How's that going to happen then? Are Bury stupid?

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

The article seems to rule it out.

1) They already turned down two offers of cash
2) The only way we could afford him is if Bury paid off his contract and we took him on a free.

How's that going to happen then? Are Bury stupid?

They are stupid actually...they went on a spending spree they couldn't afford and are now in big trouble

 

[fernandopartridge]

They are stupid actually...they went on a spending spree they couldn't afford and are now in big trouble

Yes, this time last year a number of posters were advocating we did something similar and saying how great they were, it would all pay off etc.....

 

[matesx]

He is quality in this league

 

[torchomatic]

Kieran Crowley ‏@KieranCrowley1 33m33 minutes ago
@euan_rowe @Anthony_Hornsby @SideSammy Leon could be stubborn and force Bury to let him go on a compromise. Bury are beyond desperate.

 

[bawtryneal]

Take him back, no problem. Guarantees 20 goals in League 1

 

[Covstu]

Mercenary player but he will do a job for a year or two. After that send him packing