Jewell tells Chimbonda to stay away

By Alan G
May 10 2006

Paul Jewell has barred Pascal Chimbonda from his end-of-season briefing after he submitted a written transfer request following the last game of the season.

A £6m price tag has been put on the Frenchman, who cost £500,000 a year ago, after he handed in his request in the dressing room at Arsenal on Sunday.

 

"I told him to stay away," said Jewell.

 

"I don't think the players would have been too welcome towards him, and I didn't really want to see him anyway."

 

“If Pascal saw Wigan as a "stepping stone", why did he sign a new contract in January?

 

Jewell said it was not the fact Chimbonda wanted to leave that he had a problem with, but the way in which he did it.

 

"I've no problem with players asking for a transfer," he said.

 

"I'm a big boy and I know it happens, but it was the manner in which it was done that upset me."

 

Jewell was angered by comments which Chimbonda's agent Willie McKay made in an interview with BBC Sport.

 

"I saw one quote where he said Pascal panicked in putting in his transfer request because he didn't think I was going back on the bus," he said.

 

"He must be a mindreader, because how he knew that, I don't know. And then he said the player did it because he was going on his holidays.

 

"The players knew they were coming in today, so he could have easily handed in his request today”.