Okocha move ruled out

By Matt Lawton
May 23 2002

Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has admitted defeat in his attempts to sign Nigerian captain Jay-Jay Okocha, who is set to grace our screen when playing against England early next month in the World Cup.

Allardyce admitted in an interview with Sky Sports News that negotiations had got as far as discussing the players' salary with his representitive but that seems to be the major stumbling block.
Newspapers rumours last week suggested Okocha was on his way to the Premiership and a £40,000 a week contract with the Wanderers but quite rightly so it seems that the Wanderers aren't prepared to pay so much to a player who wanted a two year contract which could cripple the club in the event of relegation next season. The signing of Benito Carbone for Bradford City is a prime example, the Yorkshire club now in administration following them continuing to pay large wage packets to players such as Carbone despite relegation to Division One.