We hope it goes
FORGET Big Ben. Officially, as far as Football League clubs are concerned, the transfer window will close tonight when the clock in our office says it is closed. Even if it only cost £9.99 and has old glowing LED numbers.
It may determine the fate of millions of pounds’ worth of business but there’s nothing hi-tech about it. Our IT guys will synchronise it manually this morning with our computer system and we will be able to see exactly when it is 11pm.
Last window Jordan Rhodes only made it with seconds to spare.
Cheap doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable, though. Of all the things that were moved when we changed offices recently, it was the single thing the registrations team moved themselves to ensure it did not get lost. That is how important it is.
By contrast, the famous fax machine disappeared several years ago to be replaced by an electronic system. I remember once when I was managing director at Bradford City on the old-fashioned final day for transfers in March. We were working on a deal and the phone lines to Valley Parade went down.
Luckily, the local haulage contractor across the road was a season-ticket holder and so he let me use his fax machine to get the registration done in time. Internal clocks on fax machines could also be adjusted to make it appear documents had been sent earlier than they were. Clubs would try desperately to find any time they could. That can’t happen now.
Tonight my role will be refereeing any arguments. I try to act as a buffer to protect those actually doing the work and will often try to pick up the phone myself.
When you are already speaking to the chief executive, you can’t exactly ask to speak to a manager!
Nobody is looking to cheat or gain an advantage – they are just under immense pressure to deliver what they need to for their club. Having been on the other side of the fence, understanding that helps.
In 1997, the Queen came to open the new stand at Bradford. We had six on Tuesday evening negotiations go on.
Sanchez is out of contract next June, but Arsenal feel they are under less pressure to sell the Chile international now they are set to receive a significant financial injection from the sale of OxladeChamberlain.
Manager Arsene Wenger is understood to be confident and signings to do that day and my phone was still vibrating in my pocket as I shook hands with Her Majesty. I did not have the nerve to say, ‘Excuse me, ma’am, we’re trying to sign Chris Wilder!’ Even though we were desperate... These days, Sky Sports News is always on in the corner and we chuckle when Jim White tells us what we are doing during that particular halfhour. Occasionally I’ll text him to say, ‘Are we?!’ Mind you, sometimes they are ahead of the game. Clubs will announce deals that haven’t actually been completed to send us a message to look out for the paperwork. Sadly, getting a transfer to appear on the yellow ticker at the bottom of the screen does not constitute full legal acceptance by us. And clubs like to keep their fan base engaged in the that Sanchez will remain professional if he does not get the move he wants, and that there is no chance of the player threatening to go on strike.
Arsenal want an offer of at least £70m before they will even consider a sale, and are more interested in a cash-only deal than a partexchange involving Raheem