Bristol City take on Cardiff in race to sign Clarkson
Bristol City could face strong competition from Championship rivals Cardiff City for Motherwell striker David Clarkson.
Although the Robins have made no official comment, the Post can confirm City have submitted a bid in the region of £600,000 for the 23-year-old Scotland international.
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That follows a £500,000 offer from the Bluebirds for Clarkson earlier this month.
Cardiff may be able to outbid City as they have completed the £5 million sale of defender Roger Johnson to Birmingham City.
However, Bristol City are hoping to follow Cardiff's lead and unearth a Scottish goalscorer in the mould of Ninian Park favourite Ross McCormack.
The former Rangers man made the move from Motherwell to the Championship this time last year and netted 23 goals in his debut season.
While McCormack was available for £120,000 in compensation as he was out of contract, Clarkson will cost more than £500,000 as he has a year left on his Fir Park deal.
Motherwell are considering City's offer and some sources suggest it has been provisionally accepted, although neither party was prepared to confirm that last night. Even if that proves to be the case, another club could still match that offer and then hold talks with the player.
Motherwell are currently managerless and are anxious to avoid losing Clarkson for a relative pittance in 12 months' time.
The 23-year-old scored on his debut for Scotland against the Czech Republic in May 2008 and has since won one further cap.
He scored 13 goals for Motherwell in the 2007–08 season, during which his uncle, Phil O'Donnell, died from heart failure during a match against Dundee United.
Clarkson was later voted player of the year, partly due to the way in which he conducted himself in light of the tragedy.
Last season he scored 14 times in 39 appearances and City will hope he is more successful than their last Scottish striker, Lee Miller, who failed to make the grade after joining from Falkirk.
In fairness, Miller was three years younger than Clarkson when he joined Danny Wilson's side and he had never played in the Scottish Premier League.
Just nine goals in 56 appearances led to a return north of the border to Dundee United after just two seasons at Ashton Gate.
City tried for another Scottish frontman two years ago, but were beaten to Steven Naismith, then with Kilmarnock, by Rangers.
The Robins are yet to make a summer signing and are short on strikers following the departures of Peter Styvar and Dele Adebola.
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by MendipMan, Wurzel Country
Friday, June 26 2009, 9:47PM
“If City's regular supporters can contain their impatience for a year or two longer, there is no reason why the club cannot make the Premiership and be in a good state to have a realistic shot at staying there.
Hull City, from a smaller city than Bristol and with a worse hisorical playing record, have made it so there is no reason why City can't do the same in the forseeable future.
A new stadium will also be extremely important to this goal.
For once Bristol is not on its own amongst England's major cities in not having a top flight club.
Of the eight official English cores cities - Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham and Bristol - only the first three currently boast Premier League clubs.”
by gas65, bristol
Friday, June 26 2009, 8:12PM
“fatsorich
The gas are in league 1 ,a club full of realistic supporters not living in some sort of dream land
Anyway whats it got to do with you living in norwich”
by fatrich, norwich
Friday, June 26 2009, 7:38PM
“yeah very funny DW! so if our clubs in a coma where the hell does that leave the GAS?”
by Ken, Emersons Green
Friday, June 26 2009, 5:39PM
“Deal has now been agreed with Motherwell, undisclosed fee with talks to take place with the player.”
by gas65, bristol
Friday, June 26 2009, 4:07PM
“DW
being a lifetime gashead your comments are probably the most sensible i have ever heard from a city fan
City are not a big club,they are just bigger than my team,if you area sleeping giant i reckon by now you must be in a coma
You have had 2 fantastic seasons in a very good league maybe settle for that for now.Bringing youth players through the ranks at every club has to be the answer and not over priced and over paid players who care nothing for the club”
by CityT, Bristol
Friday, June 26 2009, 1:56PM
“Great point DW, alot of City have forgotton alot about City since the play off final. In my opinion its best we work at being a decent stable established Championship club before we look to go any further, surely that has to be the priority, the premiership will have to wait, lets not get ahead of ourselves.”
by DW, Bristol
Friday, June 26 2009, 1:26PM
“At the end of the day City are not a big draw for players at this level. There are at least 10 clubs who are bigger, have better grounds and have premier league experience etc Until we have the new ground and/or have played premier league football we will always miss out on the cream at this level.
To throw money at players in an attempt to get to the premier league is a gamble and might not even work (plenty of clubs have tried) and it will be to the detriment of the club.
City are much better just consolidating year of year in the championship, improving the standing of the club and quality of the squad, then hopefully we can build on this.
Too many city fans have been used to us being big fish in the league 1 pond, and being able to bid for whoever we want at that level. Its a completely different situation now and we are finding that signing quality is a struggle. No matter what money we throw at a player, they may not want to sign for a team who has spent years in league 1! Unfortunately the play off final has clouded some fans views and they have forgotten who we are!”
by a, bristol
Friday, June 26 2009, 12:23PM
“the point I was trying to make Paul was clubs as heavily in debt as Cardiff should not be allowed to get further.
Very few clubs are not in debt but do you not think theres a massive diff between 5 million and 30?
There should be some sort of debt limit but couldn't say how much - maybe a % of their income?”
by Paul, Shirehampton
Friday, June 26 2009, 12:07PM
“Well Ade, clubs in debt not being allowed to buy players so City banned as well then?”
by ade, bristol
Friday, June 26 2009, 11:59AM
“you may be right Red about them being deep in debt but bear in mind that's never stopped them spending bigtime before and getting deeper and deeper!
There should be a rule that stops clubs heaviliy in debt going spending sprees and even apply to Cardiff who are normally regarded as above many of rules - never going to happen!”