EXCLUSIVE: Curo's Contract Talks Stalling

Last updated : 09 January 2003 By Rob Cooper
Jamie Cureton
Jamie Cureton gets tackled by Andy Impey during last wekk's game at home to Leicester City
Twenty-seven year-old Cureton, who is Reading's top scorer on seven goals, looks set to leave Reading at the end of the current campaign.

Negotiations between the former England Youth Internationals representatives and Reading Football Club have taken place with a view to extending Curo's contract beyond the end of the current campaign but talks have not been progessing well.

Speaking to Reading MAD, Cureton's agent, Paul Martin said: "We've had brief discussions with Reading over the past couple of months but they haven't been going well. ‘Slowly’ is the term I think I would use to describe how they have been progressing.

"We've been unable to agree the general terms of contract. Money is not the only sticking point, it's everything really. As I've said in the past Jamie loves the fans and loves the club but the manager's not right at the moment."

With less than six months left to run on Cureton's contract, his agent has a whole host of clubs chasing him, eager to snap him up on a bosman free transfer.

"Other teams are interested in him – but I'd rather not name names at this stage. As Jamie is in the last six months of his contract the rules state that from January 1st you are allowed to begin to discuss terms with clubs outside of England, not within."

Rumours in recent weeks have linked Jamie Cureton with a £400,000 cut price move to the likes of Charlton, Bolton and Norwich. The Royals reportedly want to cash in now, knowing that they will probably lose the frontman for free at the end of the season.

The agent added: "There have been no talks with those clubs as yet, but as I said there are a number of clubs interested in signing Jamie. I think a fee of £400,000 is a bit excessive for a player who only cost Reading £250,000 and is in the last six months of his contract."

Jamie Cureton was signed by Alan Pardew in August 2000 after striker Nicky Forster was ruled out for the entire 2000-01 campaign with a ruptured cruciate ligament.

Following his £250,000 move from Bristol Rovers in August 2000 Curo scored thirty-one goals in his first season at the club winning him the golden boot award.

Last season form and fitness problems affected the fan's favourite campaign whilst swarming rumours continued to suggest that the former Norwich City man didn't get on with his boss Mr Pardew.

With Cureton seemingly hell-bent on leaving Reading boss Alan Pardew is likely to take much of the stick.

The quotes from Cureton’s agent Paul Martin MUST NOT be copied by any website without accrediting Reading MAD.