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Bradley Wright-Phillips interested in staying at Southampton (From This is Hampshire)
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Bradley Wright-Phillips interested in staying at Southampton
5:20pm Tuesday 16th June 2009
BRADLEY Wright-Phillips opened the door for an extended stay at Saints by returning for pre-season training yesterday.
The Saints striker is out of contract at the end of this month and, along with Kelvin Davis and Jason Euell, who are in the same situation, was told he didn’t have to return if he didn’t want to.
Davis has already attended goalkeeping sessions but Euell opted to stay on holiday.
Despite speculation he is to join Plymouth, Wright-Phillips turned up at Staplewood and confirmed he remains interested in extending his stay at St Mary’s if things go smoothly behind the scenes.
Head coach Mark Wotte said: “Bradley Wright-Phillips showed up, which is very promising but he wanted to show himself and do something for his fitness.
“He expressed the desire to maybe stay at Southampton if everything goes well on Friday, “Bradley showed a good physical presence and a good attitude by showing up on June 15.
“We said of course he could come but we couldn’t demand that. We told him it was up to him and his own motivation and he did turn up so I respect that.
“He said he wanted to stay if we would stay.
“Bradley will be a very good player in League One.
“It all depends which person is in charge but if I’m in charge I would definitely sign Bradley.”
Also back was Grzegorz Rasiak, one of the club’s highest earners, who spent last season on loan at Watford.
He would like to move and play in the Championship again next season but if that doesn’t happen is happy to remain a Saints player, “Greg is back. He is waiting for things to happen,” explained Wotte.
“He expressed again the opinion he doesn’t want to play in League One but also said he never wanted to leave last year because he was happy.
“He’s looking for an opportunity to play in the Championship but if that’s not possible he’s happy to stay and play for Saints.
“In a couple of weeks things will be clearer. Either a club will come in to take him on loan or the people taking over can sort out something with Greg.”
As well as the interest already known in David McGoldrick and Andrew Surman, Wotte confirmed clubs had been in contact over Marek Saganowski and Morgan Schneiderlin but no concrete offers had been made.
Another player waiting for news after Friday is Jan-Paul Saeijs who is back in Holland but still keen on a return to Saints to play for Wotte.
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Your Say YourHampshire
Jesus_02, Freemantle says...
5:59pm Tue 16 Jun 09
NewforestSaint, new forest says...
6:04pm Tue 16 Jun 09
damoose, someplace thats cold says...
7:47pm Tue 16 Jun 09
fair play BWP..goodbye Euell
stew5018, Marchwood says...
9:31pm Tue 16 Jun 09
IanRRR, N Baddesley says...
11:44pm Tue 16 Jun 09
Looks like thats the day we will all find out what happens next. Cant wait. COYR.
Shooter, Southampton says...
12:07am Wed 17 Jun 09
Bet they also weren't as trim as the club would like us to believe.
BWP is almost certainly off - but not necessarily to Plymouth. He never lived up to his potential, which is a shame.
Saints also need the money on offer for McG from Forest. £1.1 million sounds to good to refuse.
Looking forward to the news on Friday and finally putting an end to all the rumours.
brennothornhill, manchester says...
11:14am Wed 17 Jun 09
Shooter wrote:how is that FACT?
Players like BWP and McGoalDrought are only turning up to get fit for new clubs - FACT. Bet they also weren't as trim as the club would like us to believe. BWP is almost certainly off - but not necessarily to Plymouth. He never lived up to his potential, which is a shame. Saints also need the money on offer for McG from Forest. £1.1 million sounds to good to refuse. Looking forward to the news on Friday and finally putting an end to all the rumours.
Shooter, Southampton says...
12:13pm Wed 17 Jun 09
The £1.1 mill deal for Mcgoldrick is almost Signed, Sealed & Delivered, awaiting the t's crossed and i's dotted after friday.
He's been telling the other players as much, including his massively improved wage offer.
To be frank, £1.1m for him is almost worth driving him there myself.
He also turned up from pre-season overwieight.
That is fact. Ask the club.
Another fatty was BWP, who is out of contract and looking everywhere but ST Marys.
However, until another club offers him training facilities (which would almost be as good as them saying they want to have a good look at him with a view to a transfer) he continues to train, and be paid by the Saints.
Plymouth are showing interest, so he's looking at the Championship with great interest, and let's be honest, it's a lot more enticing than -10 points in league one.
That is also Fact.
On another note, the fixture list suddenly hits home the sorry state we've been dumped in. Hartlepool, Yeovil etc need I go on.
I just hope that the news on Friday is as good as we are all hoping for. We need a change and something to really look forward to. Let's keep looking up from now on, rather than below us.
Back on 0 points by the end of August anyone? We can rip this league up.
Come on you reds!!!!
Bradley Wright-Phillips
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Jesus_02, Freemantle says...
5:57pm Tue 16 Jun 09
Out of all of them JP would be the biggest wish