SlowerThanPlatt
Well-Known Member
Tony Mowbray is closing in on experienced campaigner Sam Ricketts but has missed out on one of his leading summer targets.
The Coventry City boss says he is “hopeful” of completing the signing of the 33-year-old former Wolves skipper but conceded that the club have been beaten to the signature of another key player in his plans by a League One rival prepared to pay higher wages.
“I had a disappointment yesterday from one player who I thought was coming but is not because he has got a few hundred pounds somewhere else,” said Mowbray.
“When you get that call from the agent after you’ve been pushing so hard, meeting the player and getting positivity and then someone else in this league can pay a bit more than you it’s frustrating.
“What can I say to them apart from, 'good luck, I hope it goes well for you'. I’d have preferred him being a Coventry player but that’s life and we’ll do our best with what we have got.
Story link: Everything you need to know about Sam Ricketts
“It has been a bit frustrating not being able to get players over the line so that others can see that Coventry are going to have a go this year.
“It’s not been through a lack of trying but the type of quality we are trying to attract doesn’t just jump at the first offer that comes along.”
The Ricketts deal is understood to be dependent on the finer details of the package City can offer the versatile defender who can play anywhere across the back four and also in midfield.
Story link: Mowbray waiting for contract decision from Reda Johnson
Reda Johnson is another signing waiting to be done but understood to be stalling due to personal terms not being quite right for the player as Mowbray attempts to build a team on a limited playing budget, understood to be around the £2.5million mark.
“Whether we will be competitive, time will tell, but I’d hope so,” he said.
“Sitting here with just a little bit more I feel we could almost guarantee some level of success but we are where we are and we have to try to build a team bit by bit.
“We aren’t going to be at our strongest at the start of the season, as a lot of teams will at this level, but I’m sure we’ll get stronger as we go on.”
The Coventry City boss says he is “hopeful” of completing the signing of the 33-year-old former Wolves skipper but conceded that the club have been beaten to the signature of another key player in his plans by a League One rival prepared to pay higher wages.
“I had a disappointment yesterday from one player who I thought was coming but is not because he has got a few hundred pounds somewhere else,” said Mowbray.
“When you get that call from the agent after you’ve been pushing so hard, meeting the player and getting positivity and then someone else in this league can pay a bit more than you it’s frustrating.
“What can I say to them apart from, 'good luck, I hope it goes well for you'. I’d have preferred him being a Coventry player but that’s life and we’ll do our best with what we have got.
Story link: Everything you need to know about Sam Ricketts
“It has been a bit frustrating not being able to get players over the line so that others can see that Coventry are going to have a go this year.
“It’s not been through a lack of trying but the type of quality we are trying to attract doesn’t just jump at the first offer that comes along.”
The Ricketts deal is understood to be dependent on the finer details of the package City can offer the versatile defender who can play anywhere across the back four and also in midfield.
Story link: Mowbray waiting for contract decision from Reda Johnson
Reda Johnson is another signing waiting to be done but understood to be stalling due to personal terms not being quite right for the player as Mowbray attempts to build a team on a limited playing budget, understood to be around the £2.5million mark.
“Whether we will be competitive, time will tell, but I’d hope so,” he said.
“Sitting here with just a little bit more I feel we could almost guarantee some level of success but we are where we are and we have to try to build a team bit by bit.
“We aren’t going to be at our strongest at the start of the season, as a lot of teams will at this level, but I’m sure we’ll get stronger as we go on.”
