Sponsored by
Tonge cash too good for Sheffield United to turn down
Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell was disappointed by the departure of midfielder Michael Tonge to Stoke but insisted it was a good deal.
Tonge has signed a four-year deal at the Britannia Stadium for an undisclosed fee, and although Blackwell would have preferred not to sell the midfielder, he did not want to stand in the way of the 25-year-old.
"I was hoping the phone call wouldn't come, because I wanted to keep the squad together," the Blades boss told the club's official website.
"It all happened so quickly from about 11pm and it was a situation where Tongey wanted the opportunity to play in the Premier League again, and the club had received an excellent financial offer.
"We knew something could happen, but hoped it wouldn't. Some of the staff had to be at Bramall Lane until gone midnight because of that. Stoke put a bid in late in the day and that was that.
"We grew up together in a way and I have seen him progress rapidly over my two spells with the Blades. When I came back, he proved to the supporters that he is a good player and he is a great lad."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
