Paul Merson confirmed last night on WM that Matt Fryatt and Julian Bennett will both be leaving the club in the next couple of days, but that he will receive none of the proceeds. He said that his rebuilding plans depend on a win today at Barnsley and the income that would generate.

Matt Fryatt will be signing for cash strapped Leicester City early next week. Because of the valauation we put on him and Leicester’s finances, the fee, we hear from sources close to the club, will be a mere 300,000 initially, although there will be add ons. This is far lower than the price similar players (McCleod 1.3 million and Tyson 600,000) have recently commanded.

Julian Bennett is going to Forest for 150,000 at the moment, although there has been some late interest from a Championship club.

The blow as far as the team is concerned is that Merson freely admitted on WM that he will see none of this cash and that his rebuilding plans (two strikers and another central midfielder) depend on a win at Barnsley and the prize money that that will generate. Sources close to the club again tell me that the Paul Devlin move Merson was talking about is likely to be dead now, but that one of the targets is none other than our old favourite, Martin Butler.

The news may relieve some of the pressure on Merson from the fans, but the spotlight is now sure to turn on Chairman Jeff Bonser.