Connolly Deal OFF

Last updated : 22 July 2003 By Rob Cooper
Alan Pardew's desperate search for a striker goes on as it was revealed the Royals boss has pulled the plug on a move for Wimbledon hotshot David Connolly.

Frustrated by the lack of process with negotiations, Alan Pardew decided to pull the plug on the deal as he did not believe that the World Cup wizard was really serious about coming to Reading.

"I felt there wasn't enough commitment coming back from him to convince me that he (Connolly) should be a Reading player," said Pards, speaking to readingfc.co.uk.

"As far as we are concerned, the move for David Connolly is over," he confirmed.

On 30th June Madejski Stadium chiefs announced that they had agreed a fee with Wimbledon's administrators for the forward's services. However, the 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international was unable to agree personal terms with Reading.

It is believed that Connolly was holding out for a mammoth £10,000 per week, well beyond the Royals alleged wage ceiling of £7,000 per week.

Yesterday Reading MAD reported that Nottingham Forest are the latest club hoping to sign the Willesden born player. Nigel Worthington, boss of Norwich City, is also reported to have registered an interest. You can read that story here.

With the season getting underway on August 9th, time is not on Alan Pardew's side as he attempts to sign a new centre-forward. Now that Jamie Cureton has signed for the Busan Icons the Royals find themnselves somewhat short at the front.

Shaun Goater, Geoff Horsfield, Teddy Sheringham and Bobby Zamora have all been linked with a move to the Madejski, but due to a lack of success on those fronts, Pards may now turn his attentions to a foreign land feeling he can get himself a bargain. Indeed, Reading Football Club are using their pre-season tour of Sweden to eye up some possible signings.

After a quiet summer that has seen just about every Division One standard player linked with a move to Reading; just one deal has materialized. Royals fans will want a flurry of transfer activity ahead of the new campaign so that we can mount a serious promotion challenge.