Curle Not Moving To Saddlers

By Paul Holland
June 22 2002

Colin Lee is continuing to dismiss lingering speculation that he will target a move for the Sheffield United player-coach Keith Curle.

Former England international Curle has consistently been linked with a move to Bescot all summer.

Lee and Curle do have long standing links due to the time that they spent working together at Wolves, but Lee has let it be known that he has no plans to try and sign the veteran former Wimbledon and Manchester City centre half.

The Saddlers boss is already fairly well stocked for central defenders after managing to persuade Ian Roper to sign a new deal at the end of the season.

Despite the fact that David Holdsworth returned to Birmingham City at the end of the season after his loan spell at the club, Lee still has three central defenders to call on for next term. Roper and former England under-21 international Matt Carbon are likely to start as he first choice pairing at the start of the season after they formed a solid partnership during Walsall's successful battle to avoid relegation.

Lee also has Tony Barras pressing for a place after he missed much of last season with a hip injury.