The latest on Blake saga

Last updated : 29 December 2004 By Paul Farrington
Robbie Blake
Firstly, Latics boss Paul Jewell has said: "Burnley are determined not to sell him to us, and that's their prerogative. But I know the player wants to come, but Burnley don't want to sell him to us. We've made what we consider is a fair offer, but Birmingham have matched that from what I have been told, and I understand that Burnley don't want him to go to a First Division club.

"We made a £1million offer with more added if we get promotion and stuff like that and as far as I am aware that's as it stands now until we see what Birmingham have made. They don't want to sell him to us and there's nothing we can do about that. I get the feeling if we offered £3million they still wouldn't sell him to us! Apparently Burnley were upset with the initial offer but they are asking for too much money. That's the way transfers work, the first offer is only a negotiation point, and they were upset but there's nothing I can do about that!"

While Burnley manager Steve Coterill added: "I have resigned myself to thinking that Robbie is going to be on his way. It hurt a lot having to put him on the bench today but I don't have the biggest of squads. A decision will have to made when he goes, and I say 'when' he goes because any player that gets an opportunity to play in the Premiership, whilst their playing in the Championship, well you can't hold them back, and he's been great for me. He deserves a chance to be playing in the Premiership."

"Our chairman and Birmingham are talking together about the future and I'm sure things will materialise in the next few days unfortunately. We never got an agreeable fee with Wigan and that's all I will say. You try and begrudge someone the chance to play in the Premiership!"

And Birmingham boss Steve Bruce said: "Yes I can confirm that there has been conversation between clubs, we hope that we can do something in the next 24-48 hours, the owners are speaking with the chairman of Burnley, and we'll leave it in their capable hands."

Strangely there is nothing in there from Bruce about poaching players that Paul Jewell feels are good!?