Mullers
Banned
Coppell: Zamora wenr 'on the cheap'
by Mike Donovan
Steve Coppell has admitted Tottenham got Bobby Zamora 'on the cheap'.
However, Albion's boss insists financial restraints gave the club little option but to accept the £1.5m offer for the striker who scored twice on his Spurs debut at Oxford on Sunday.
Coppell said: "Glenn Hoddle (Spurs manager) has been quoted as saying that his club stole Bobby, that they got him on the cheap. That's right, due to circumstances we couldn't do anything about. In a different environment we'd have got more.
"What's killing us, and killing is the right word, is the public inquiry into the Falmer Stadium project, which is just a drain. It's costing millions. It's a big black hole.
"Bobby was going to go because we were desperate for the money to help with the inquiry. When you look at QCs who earn more on an hourly basis than footballers you can see what it is costing. We are in the midst of a struggle which will determine the prosperity of the club, but paying the price.
"Everything is compromised because we haven't got a stadium. As soon as we've got a stadium the club has a future."
Coppell denies the cash restraints have hit players' wages but admitted: "We are a club who can't gamble. We can't go above our income and expenditure. It is a difficult situation and I hope supporters can appreciate it.
"There is a wonderful resistance at Brighton and because we do spend within our means we can survive. Dick (Knight, the chairman) is very honest and genuine but successfully sustaining a team is difficult, although I'm not saying it won't happen."
Coppell will not get anything to spend from the fee for Zamora.
"I knew that right from when the chairman said to me the budget is 'this'. If I juggle things maybe I can divert the budget in terms of wages to pay a small fee for someone. But mathematics don't add up to a substantial one.
Coppell has made an enquiry about Peterborough striker Leon McKenzie.
He said: "My job is to see what players we can afford. There's talk of us offering £500,000 for Leon, a player I had at Crystal Palace. I'd love to sign him but we haven't got £500,000.
"I'd certainly like one striker of real substance, someone I know will get 15 to 20 goals a season, but you can't replace Zamora with one player. He was directly and indirectly responsible for 40 goals a season.
"I've spent an awful lot of time on the telephone trying to get players but not getting too far."
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT? Were the reports of financial problems and late staff payments true?
by Mike Donovan
Steve Coppell has admitted Tottenham got Bobby Zamora 'on the cheap'.
However, Albion's boss insists financial restraints gave the club little option but to accept the £1.5m offer for the striker who scored twice on his Spurs debut at Oxford on Sunday.
Coppell said: "Glenn Hoddle (Spurs manager) has been quoted as saying that his club stole Bobby, that they got him on the cheap. That's right, due to circumstances we couldn't do anything about. In a different environment we'd have got more.
"What's killing us, and killing is the right word, is the public inquiry into the Falmer Stadium project, which is just a drain. It's costing millions. It's a big black hole.
"Bobby was going to go because we were desperate for the money to help with the inquiry. When you look at QCs who earn more on an hourly basis than footballers you can see what it is costing. We are in the midst of a struggle which will determine the prosperity of the club, but paying the price.
"Everything is compromised because we haven't got a stadium. As soon as we've got a stadium the club has a future."
Coppell denies the cash restraints have hit players' wages but admitted: "We are a club who can't gamble. We can't go above our income and expenditure. It is a difficult situation and I hope supporters can appreciate it.
"There is a wonderful resistance at Brighton and because we do spend within our means we can survive. Dick (Knight, the chairman) is very honest and genuine but successfully sustaining a team is difficult, although I'm not saying it won't happen."
Coppell will not get anything to spend from the fee for Zamora.
"I knew that right from when the chairman said to me the budget is 'this'. If I juggle things maybe I can divert the budget in terms of wages to pay a small fee for someone. But mathematics don't add up to a substantial one.
Coppell has made an enquiry about Peterborough striker Leon McKenzie.
He said: "My job is to see what players we can afford. There's talk of us offering £500,000 for Leon, a player I had at Crystal Palace. I'd love to sign him but we haven't got £500,000.
"I'd certainly like one striker of real substance, someone I know will get 15 to 20 goals a season, but you can't replace Zamora with one player. He was directly and indirectly responsible for 40 goals a season.
"I've spent an awful lot of time on the telephone trying to get players but not getting too far."
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT? Were the reports of financial problems and late staff payments true?
