Wilkins insists Sinclair to stay

Sunday 18 August 1996 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ray Wilkins insisted again yesterday that Trevor Sinclair is staying at relegated Queen's Park Rangers despite reports circulating in the north that he will join Leeds on Thursday.

The Leeds managing director, Bill Fotherby, is said to be ready with a new pounds 6m bid which he will table today, having already apologised to QPR after the West London club's chief executive, Clive Berlin, threatened to report them to the Football Association for conducting transfer negotiations "through the press".

Wilkins, QPR's player-manager, determined to keep his best players on board in an attempt to get straight back into the Premiership, and boosted by Chris Wright's pounds 10m takeover at Loftus Road. said: "I find all this very interesting. I spoke to Howard Wilkinson, the Leeds manager, only today and Trevor's name did not even come up.

"Howard has registered an interest in buying the player but Leeds have come nowhere near our valuation and Trevor is not going anywhere.

"People seem to think we are just saying that, but I can assure you it is the truth. He is under contract and he is happy. His behaviour in circumstances that could unsettle him has been impeccable."

Wilkins refuses to reveal if there is a price at which Rangers would even be tempted to sell but, last season, he valued Sinclair at pounds 10m to try to deter potential buyers.

It is reported, however, that a clause in Sinclair's contract at Rangers says he can talk to any would-be purchasers provided they meet the club's valuation. But another possible sticking point is that QPR must pay Blackpool 20 per cent of any fee they receive for him above pounds 650,000.

PSV Eindhoven beat Ajax 3-0 yesterday in the Dutch Supercup helped by two goals from new signing Marc Degryse.

The season curtain raiser, renamed this season the Johan Cruyff Cup, is played between last season's Dutch league champions, Ajax, and the winners of the domestic cup competition.

Arrigo Sacchi will stay on as Italy's national coach at least for the rest of 1996 which includes two World Cup qualifiers. Raffaele Pagnozzi, the new temporary head of Italy's national football federation, had agreed to retain Sacchi for the games against Moldova and Georgia scheduled for 5 and 9 October.

Italians had called for Sacchi to be sacked after Italy were eliminated in the first round of Euro 96 in England, but the former Milan coach has refused to resign and has a lucrative contract that expires in 1998.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in