PFA backs Stoke City over Jamie Ness transfer from Glasgow Rangers as Newco threatens legal action
STOKE City have every right to sign Rangers midfielder Jamie Ness on a free transfer, players' union chief executive Gordon Taylor has told The Sentinel.
The Potters are poised to complete the signing of the 21-year-old on a four-year deal, despite threats of legal action from north of the border.
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Rangers' Jamie Ness
Ness has exercised his right to terminate his contract with the soon-to-be liquidated Rangers rather than transfer to the reformed "newco" club.
Newco chief executive Charles Green has threatened Ness with legal action and vowed to claim compensation from any club he signs for.
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But Taylor says Ness is entitled to walk away from his Rangers contract.
He agrees with the Scottish players' union that Green would not have a case if he asked FIFA to block the move.
He said: "The players agreed to defer some money, but the club has not honoured their contracts so they are entitled to be free agents, and I don't see any reason why FIFA wouldn't accept that.
"If you can't honour a player's contract you can't say you wish to keep him and ask for money for him."
Meanwhile, Stoke are understood to have expressed an interest in Wolves striker Steven Fletcher.
City haven't gone as far as making an offer for the player, who is being heavily linked with Sunderland.
But Tony Pulis is looking to improve his attacking options after City managed just 34 league goals last season, the lowest in the top flight.
Wolves are bullish about getting up to £10m for the 25-year-old striker, who still has three years left on his contract.
Fletcher scored 12 goals in 32 appearances for Wolves last year, cementing his reputation as a hard-working front man with an eye for goal.
His ability in the air – seven of his 12 goals were headers – would add to City's direct threat. Wolves paid Burnley a club-record £7m for the striker in 2010.
Comments
by nelliebell
Sunday, July 01 2012, 10:28AM
“Jamie Ness,is a product of Rangers youth system,yes he is a raw talent,& will need to have a good team around him to bring him on,He is though a great prospect,& has good skill,would fit in to Stokes midfield alongside Wilson,& one other,he could be what we are looking for,someone who grafts& can pass a ball,he would certainly be a loss to Rangers.”
by Davejjohnson
Saturday, June 30 2012, 7:54PM
“Soccerfoot many years ago if we had signed the World famous John Barnes on a free transfer then you would have had a moan because you had never heard of him either. You have also moaned about Stoke not signing Demba Ba but who had heard of him before he appeared at Stoke ? Hands up those who had heard of Sergi Shtauik before he signed for Stoke and he was better than Robert Huth. I am not going to try to make a fool of you here Soccerfoot, I don't feel the need to because you do such a cracking job of it yourself. Even Latthink who has defended you in the past seems to have lost patience with you. How on earth you claim to be a supporter defies all rational thinking. Cue abuse from the man who never gives it.”
by MrDAP
Saturday, June 30 2012, 5:52PM
“I was simply referring to your earlier post on this thread Knob. Read it again and you might understand where I'm coming from. Having said that, I doubt it.”
by soccerfoot11
Saturday, June 30 2012, 5:42PM
“dope, as usual your mind melts when it comes to matters of what i say on here. Personally im glad he is going after a new midfielder as i expressed in an earlier post that, i suppose you conveniently missed. He could only be an improvement over the lark we have playing there now. But i have to laugh when dap is exclaiming that nobody knows who he is, but sullivan is exclaiming he is fantastic and a stalwart for Rangers! come on fellas, get together before you try and make a point so you dont make yourselves look like, well, that !!”
by MrDAP
Saturday, June 30 2012, 4:20PM
“You just get better and better Knob. You've been on here in the past bleating on and on about how Pulis should give some of our younger players a break. Yet outside of Stoke, you can bet your average supporter would not have heard of them. So what's the difference then Knob? I reckon you just fancied another pop at the manager. The important point here is that our club are prepared to offer him a 4 year contract, so I'd say our management team will have done their homework on him.
I really hope he is the "2nd coming of Paul Scholes", but then I guess you'd still find something to have a pop about.
Welcome to Stoke Jamie; just don't read the Sentinel webpages!”
by Latthink
Saturday, June 30 2012, 3:33PM
“If he turns out to be the 2nd Coming, then that would leave at least two fingers protruding from S/FOOTS nose. Why does he demean these matters so much?”
by LiamOSullivan
Saturday, June 30 2012, 3:23PM
“Maybe nobody applies to you, but Ness was a stalwart at Rangers before it all went wrong. Played for the wrong team, of course, but was more than useful.”
by soccerfoot11
Saturday, June 30 2012, 2:35PM
“is it the free transfer that has Pulis and co all excited about a player nobody has ever heard of, or is it getting his and the club's name in the papers and getting some free publicity. I suppose we can all hope this kid is the 2nd coming of Paul Scholes for the sake of our midfield!!”