Worthington rules out 'oldies'

[Huckerbys right foot]

Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington took a light-hearted swipe at the tabloid gossip mongers yesterday after picking up the latest trophy of a triumphant season.

If all the rumours are to be believed the City boss is currently attempting to bolster his squad by bringing in a host of veterans, with the likes of Martin Keown, Per Frandsen, Teddy Sheringham and Tim Sherwood all being linked with the newly promoted Canaries in recent weeks.

Worthington never had any intention of snapping up that quartet of thirty-somethings – and hinted that the speculation might be nearer the mark if it centred around slightly younger players.

"I'd just like to be linked with one or two people between the ages of 19 and 24," he said after beating the likes of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson to the final quarterly award in the Tissot League for managers' performance.

"If I sign all the players that have been mentioned I'm going to have the oldest team in the Premiership.

"They all seem to be in their mid to late thirties. Yes, they've got a lot of experience at that stage but I'm afraid the old legs start to go then, as I well know. There's a lot of speculation and that seems to be part of the job of being in the Premiership.

"It's something I can live with. I won't go shouting about the business I am trying to do. All I can say is that if and when something happens the local media will be the first to know."

Worthington found himself fielding questions about two slightly younger players yesterday, with Birmingham defender Darren Purse (27) and Wolves' Romanian international striker Ionel Ganea (30) both mentioned as possible targets in the morning press. His denial was short and to the point – but he made it clear that a lot of hard work was going on behind the scenes to build a squad capable of holding it's own in the Premiership next season.

"There's nothing in those two at all," he said. "But myself and Doug Livermore are on our toes from a point of view of making phone calls, speaking to agents and different players. And if and when the time is right for Norwich City, and the player is right for Norwich City, then we'll look to move on it.

"In an ideal world you'd want everything to come together as soon as possible, but it's football. And as we all know patience has got to be used. Things take a little bit of time to be sorted out.

"We've just got to try and get players down here to show them what we've got to offer, what Norfolk has got to offer. If you do that then eight times out of 10 they will sign for Norwich."

As it stands at present Worthington has only confirmed two transfer targets and one of those, Leicester utility man Riccardo Scimeca, opted to stay in the Midlands and sign for West Bromwich Albion instead. The other, Arsenal youngster David Bentley, remains a possibility, with Worthington still hoping to lure him to Carrow Road on a season long loan.

"I've spoken to Arsenal and I've spoken to the player himself and his representative," he said. "We've just got to wait and see because there are a host of other clubs after David because he is a very good player. All we can do is put our hat in the ring and hopefully there's enough here to sell the club to the him."

Worthington was keen to stress his 'all for one and one for all' philosophy as he picked up the final Tissot managerial award of the season, based on clubs' performances between March 7 and the end of the campaign. The City boss guided his team to nine wins out of 12, and promotion, during a memorable period in the club's history and that was enough to leave him well clear of nearest challengers Colin Calderwood (Northampton) and Peter Taylor (Hull).

"People keep talking about another award for Nigel Worthington and I keep having to correct them," he said. "It's for me, my staff and everyone connected with Norwich City Football Club, and that includes the supporters. We are a team.

"It's a very nice trophy to receive when you look at all the distinguished names who have picked it up before me. I am absolutely delighted on everyone's behalf."


LETS HOPE WE DONT BECOME THE NEXT POMPEY!!..WE USED TO HAVE A VERY VERY YOUNG SQUAD!!