Sordell's agent rejects Bassini's claims (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

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Agent of Bolton Wanderers striker Marvin Sordell rejects claims by Watford owner Laurence Bassini

11:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Herts' Headlines Photograph of the Author By Frank Smith

Picture: Action Images

Marvin Sordell's agent has strongly denied claims by Watford owner Laurence Bassini that he said the striker would run down his contract with the Hornets.

Watford’s owner released a statement the day after Sordell joined Bolton Wanderers claiming the striker had been affected by “external influences”.

Bassini claimed Sordell’s agent had rejected a new contract on behalf of the player, which would double Sordell’s wages, and that his agent, Sky Andrew, said the contract would not be considered and that the 20-year-old would see out the remainder of his current deal if he wasn’t sold.

This was strongly denied by Andrew, whose client list includes QPR striker Jay Bothroyd, Stoke City winger Jermaine Pennant and England fast bowler James Anderson.

“Normally I wouldn’t comment on such matters but it is important for the fans to know the facts,” Andrew said.

“First and foremost, it is important to state that Ross Wilson and Sean Dyche were outstanding in the way they dealt with the whole situation.

“The manager was particularly gracious and Marvin appreciated the way the manager treated him.

“The second thing which needs to be said is that neither Marvin or myself had looked to leave the club.”

The Watford Observer understands the Hornets made other clubs aware of Sordell and Adrian Mariappa’s availability through a well-respected sports agency last week.

This prompted a bid from Cardiff City for Sordell and we understand the Welsh club had initially been told they had permission to talk to the player following a £3m bid, which included further add-ons, only for the Hornets to state they needed time to reconsider.

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay did not name which player he was talking about but he did tell the Welsh press: “We had a bid accepted for one player and than half-an-hour after things changed.”

Bassini said recent history between Watford and Cardiff meant the chances of striking a deal were “remote”.

Bolton came in for the striker on Tuesday afternoon and Bassini decided to withdraw Sordell from the squad to face Millwall.

In Bassini’s 270-word statement on the club’s website, he claimed: “Unfortunately, you cannot protect your own players from external and third-party influences when it comes to what might be best for their future career.

“We made an offer to double Marvin’s wages, however his agent advised that this wouldn’t be considered and that they’d simply let his contract run down.

“Then we’d have been in a vulnerable position as regards compensation amounts – so it becomes more about doing what’s best for Watford FC at that exact moment.

“I discussed the matter with Graham Taylor (chairman) and we agreed that selling Marvin was in the best interests of the football club, given the circumstances.”

However, when Sordell’s agent was asked if he said the player would not consider the new contract offer, Andrew stated: “That is not the case.

“We put it in writing to the club that we would consider the offer until the deadline we were given (February 1).”

And on Bassini’s claims that Andrew said Sordell would “simply let his contract run down”, the former Olympian replied: “No, I didn’t say he would run the contract down.”

Andrew added: “Marvin was given a contract offer and was given a time frame to consider it (until February 1) and we wrote to the club saying he would consider it.And before that time was up, the club decided to sell him.”

Sordell joined Bolton on a deal which we understand could eventually reach more than £3.5m, however Andrew stressed it was not a simple decision for the youngster, who joined Watford after being released by Fulham.

Andrew said: “It is a massive wrench for players like Marvin to leave a club when you have a good relationship with the manager and are being looked after by people like Sean Dyche and Ross Wilson (Watford’s head of football business).

“But if the club say they have accepted an offer from a Premier League club then I think fans would understand the player would want to talk to them.”

“Ross Wilson and Sean Dyche were top notch,” Andrew continued, “Marvin was sad to leave and he appreciated that Sean Dyche was the one who helped nurture him all the way from the youth team.”

Andrew set up his agency in the early 1990s after retiring as a table tennis player - having won three Commonwealth gold medals and attended the Seoul Olympic Games.

He stressed that he has never had a player break a contract and praised Sordell’s attitude during the transfer.

Andrew said: “Marvin conducted himself in an exemplary manner and the Watford fans and the manager were a big factor in the decision whether to go.

“It is important that the fans know the facts.

The facts are he didn’t ask to leave and he would have been happy to stay. Marvin was happy to stay and it was the club who decided to sell him.”

Comments(70)

bigthunder says...
11:14am Fri 3 Feb 12

WAKE UP EVERYBODY as i have been saying for sometime now dark forces at work going on at our club and once again the creadability of Bassini is found wanting !!

Graham taylor sort it out your own creadability is also being called into question associating your self with these articles

The Watford Observer understands the Hornets made other clubs aware of Sordell and Adrian Mariappa’s availability through a well-respected sports agency last week.

hawking our players around to a sports agency to sell them says everything you need to know !!

this man / board needs removing our club is being fleeced and slowly destroyed

whose next to be sold off !!