Money Pays Out Money Shock!
The Evening Mail has confirmed that new signing Allan Picken did, in fact, cost some strange thing younger Saddlers fans will not have heard of, called a transfer fee.
The paper reports:-
“Money has returned to his last port of call Down Under, Newcastle Jets, to land 24-year-old Picken, who has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Saddlers for a minimal fee.
We were reporting yesterday that sources “down under” had, in fact, reported that fee as being $A50,000.
Money says of the new man:-
“Allan is 6ft 2in, a tough, uncompromising defender and is tailor-made for this division. He has decent pace, is decent with the ball, very strong in the air and very powerful. He was recognised by many as the ‘rookie of the year’ in last year’s inaugural Australian League, and I’m delighted we’ve managed to prise him away.
It’s an exciting signing for the club, something a little bit different, and something not many people would know about. I’m sure once he’s here they’ll soon get used to what he’s all about. He played every game for me last season and became a bit of a cult hero with the fans - hopefully he’ll do the same here.
There is no doubt in my mind that he is going to be a big favourite.”
Money swooped to land Picken after finding out that two League One clubs wanted to take him on trial, having decided on not raiding his former club as a matter of principal, and admits in time he could be suited to playing at a higher level, having been very close to a previous chance in English football when impressing Peter Reid during a trial with Sunderland.
Money added: “They’ve been in pre-season training in Australia just as we have and knowing the boy well, I’m sure he’ll be extremely fit.
He used to work as a concreter, so that tells you what sort of character he is!
It’s important for us because of the suspensions this weekend and I think he’ll be ready to play by the time we go to Rochdale.”
