We've Lost A Gem

Well, despite being told that Blues didn't have to sell players, we've seen two leave. I'm with most fans, totally not bothered that Heskey has left, especially for the fee involved, but I am sad to see Jermaine Pennant go, that is for sure.

Steve Bruce had stated that Jermaine Pennant would not be sold on the cheap.

'There's only been one bid, that's all, three weeks ago. It was around £3.5 million and we paid £3 million for him plus we owe Arsenal 25 per cent of any sell-on. So we won't sell him for £3.5 million - that's for sure. Now it's a question of how far Liverpool are prepared to go in meeting our valuation. If they don't then they will move on I suppose.'

Personally I'd have liked to have seen Pennant isn't for sale being the message.

David Gold had insisted several weeks ago that Blues' stars are not actively being shown the door and that should any of the big name players be sold then the price must be right for the club. 'We have laid out our stall, there are still people to come in and we all feel that it is important to retain the rest of our squad....We have to all understand that as much as the fans, the board and the manager want to be in the Premiership, so do the players. If a club from the Premiership comes in, then they are bound to be interested.'

'That's one way a player can get back there, the other is by fighting to help us up and that, to a degree, is out of our hands. But I have to stress that we are not prepared to let anybody go on the cheap. And by choice, we want to keep all of our best players - and people can see that is what we are doing.'

He also stated, 'I would be bitterly disappointed if we lost more than one player. We don't want to lose any, but we have to be prepared for that eventuality. If the money is too big and the player can't resist the club, if he wants to go, then it's difficult. The days of a Tom Finney being born in bred in Preston and deciding that's where he wants to play until the day he dies have, sadly, long since gone.'

Well, we have lost two now, I don't think many of us care about Heskey going, especially for the money received, but I'm saddened to see Jermaine Pennant go under any circumstances.

We just have to hope that the money - which I'm sure will be available as promised, goes on the right arrivals because I think we have lost a gem there.

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