Johnson says no to Michael Mifsud
Michael Mifsud's proposed transfer to Bristol City has collapsed amid bitter recriminations.
City looked set to sign the Malta international from Championship rivals Coventry after he agreed personal terms and passed a medical at the weekend.
But Bristol City manager Gary Johnson last night pulled the plug on the proposed £1.5 million deal, accusing the 27-year-old striker and his representatives of behaving unprofessionally and showing a lack of respect for the club.
The Evening Post understands Mifsud and his agent agreed the terms of a three-year contract on Saturday, only to alter their stance dramatically on Monday and table additional demands.
When the player failed to show at Ashton Gate yesterday, a furious Johnson contacted Mifsud's agent to call the whole thing off.
“I don't think he's right for us,” said Johnson. “I know people will be shocked by that and this is not me trying to enhance my reputation for interview techniques.
“I can't commit £1.5m of the club's money to people that I don't think can be committed for three years. That means so much to me and this football club. We've worked so hard over the last few years getting where we are with the dressing room we have.
“Him, his representative and lawyer took negotiations to a new level that I've never seen before, not as in finances necessarily, but in the way they were conducting business.
“In my opinion, it wasn't very professional and certainly not respectful of this football club.”
Johnson added: “When I talk to people and try to do a deal with them, you get to know their weaknesses. Although they might be very good players, if they aren't the right personality for me and the club then they'll let you down in the end.”
This is the latest in a series of setbacks suffered by City this summer and Johnson's search for a pacy striker appears to be back at square one.
He had lined up a similar £1.5m deal for Egypt international forward Emad Meteb, who was unveiled as a City player earlier this month after passing a medical and agreeing a three-year contract.
But the move fell through when Meteb went against City's wishes by playing for his club, Al-Ahly, in the Cairo derby against Zamalek on July 20. Johnson pulled out of the deal and instead switched his attentions to Mifsud.
The Maltese submitted a written transfer request to Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman, and Coventry accepted a bid from City last week. But Johnson was not prepared to budge on what he considered an important point of principle.
Nevertheless, the absence of any new strikers just 10 days before the start of their Championship campaign will disappoint City fans, who have become increasingly disgruntled in recent weeks.
The collapse of the deal will no doubt be a cause of embarrassment to Robins chairman Steve Lansdown, who told supporters at the club's open day on Sunday that Mifsud would definitely sign the following day.
Johnson said: “I'm sorry for the supporters and especially sorry for the chairman, because he's done exactly what I wanted him to. He's twice come up with £1.5m for Meteb and Mifsud.
“Twice we've agreed with clubs and twice we've agreed with players. I'm only going to do things which are right for the football club – I promise the fans that.
“Both situations proved, given certain incidents during negotiations with the players, that they weren't right. I think at some stage we would have lost them, albeit in the head or whatever circumstances.
“However good the players are, you will lose them in the end if they don't come across as what you need for the football club.”
Johnson added: “I've discussed this with the chairman because it's serious stuff when you pull out of deals, having worked so hard following them.
“I had a text from the player (Mifsud) on Saturday saying that he had enjoyed looking around Bristol and would be down on Monday to sign.
“I told the chairman that and he obviously announced that at the Open Day, like I had done to many fans. The lad reneged on that and, at that point, I started questioning things.”
Johnson remains hopeful of signing an unnamed European-based target man ahead of Bristol City's August 9 curtain-raiser against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.
56 Comments
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by Steve C, Hanham
Thursday, July 31 2008, 6:45PM
“Hi Dave, Yes it is I, Steve Cook after all these years- Still arguing the cause-still flying the red flag!! Yes, totally agree on your last point.That's the great thing about football though - we can debate all night & still agree/disagree, but we all want the best for the club.
Cheers Dave”
by thelittlebigman, Bristol
Thursday, July 31 2008, 1:15PM
“Dave Massey has hit the nail on the head with regards to Jacki & Andy Cole, and his comments about the current team lacking flair as also spot on.
Archie: I take your point about LIta, but he cost us nothing, and made us a million pounds in under two years, whilst providing a lot of goals along the way. I dare say had Danny Wilson played Lita in the play-off final against Brighton we may well have won promotion and kept hold of him.
Gary Johnson signed Andy Smith and Bas Savage for nothing, they left for nothing, and scored nothing; save for Savage who did provide a lot of entertainment whilst trying to impersonate a professional footballer. Lee Trundle cost us £1m. Current resale value = at least half of that. Goals last season = 5/6. That said, if the rumors are true, hats off to the board for reportedly stumping up over £2m for a 20 year old lad with a bright future ahead of him. That is the level of ambition many fans have been hoping to see this coming season.”
by DAVE MASSEY, London
Thursday, July 31 2008, 11:36AM
“well mr cook(?) - hello after all this time! my point about cole and jacki is on their day they were world class. dennis smith rarely used jacki in his best position, playing him on the right wing!! he was a playmaker for gods sake! mcg and stanley were the posers in EVERY game. look at cole's career after he left us!!! sorry mate - you're wrong about their merits, right about a 'team' ethic. that's the art of good management that fergie et al get so right. but this team DESPERATELY needs some FLAIR and GOALSCORERS. i think on that at least we can agree!”
by Steve C, Hanham
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 10:16PM
“Dave Massey, I was the year behind you at Kingsfield & have seen all you've seen! Jacki only played about 40 games,scored about 10 goals, brilliant at times, crap at others, especially after his legendary sessions in town & up & down Gloucester Rd, :Cole, only 50 odd games 20 odd goals, - likewise with brilliance but crap, missing at times - especially when the pair of them went AWOL at Watford in April 92 - yeah Cole got 2 tap ins & we had sending offs , but they were rubbish! MY POINT IS WE NEED A TEAM- NOT A BUNCH OF BIG TIME CHARLIES!!! Sum of being greater - not mediocrity. For that I can go to Horfield,”
by Archie, Bristol
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 9:40PM
“littlebigman , you are right great players but what did BCFC gain from them in the future ? Nothing but memories for Jacki and a small amount of cash for Lita which would have been bigger if he was a decent person that should have commited to 1 more season and dare i say promotion sooner than we did.”
by Dave Massey, London, London
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 9:01PM
“good god!! how can anyone who knows ANYTHING about football equate wor jacki and andy cole with mcgarvey and stanley - you don't know what you're talking about man!!! you just want mediocrity!!!”
by Terjon, Hanham
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 8:49PM
“Maynard Bid from the CITY, check out the BBC web site, Surely they wouldnt put in on there web site... City and Crewe will be quiet untill club and player have met and agreed the deal. At this stage I believe City have bid, Crewe have said yes, Now its up to GJ and Maynard.......lets all pray......every crewe fan is biting there fingers, they think hes quality.. COME ON GARY LETS GET THIS ONE....Jenko to follow from austria..”
by Steve C, Hanham
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 8:23PM
“I've been away on biz for a few days & was surprised to read about the Mifsud non-deal but, come on guys, our club is in the best position it has been for years. Trust the Chairman, trust GJ, think back to where we were. We have the best manager for years -I was there in the Dicks days, Terry Cooper did a brilliant job early on, as did Joe Jordan 1st time & John Ward until after promotion. If you think this is bad cast your eyes to Horfield & see what a shambles that place is!! The sum of last years team was greater than it's component parts, and got to Wembley without any big-time charlies coming in to rock the boat. If Matab and Mifsud think they will come in to dictate things I'd rather not have them! Yes Jacki & Andy Cole, & Leroy Lita were a bit "out of the box" they did great in parts, and were awful in others! (So was Gary Stanley & Scott McGarvey for you older fans). Come on you Reds -get behind the Chairman & the Manager!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by Steve, Southville
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 7:51PM
“Meteb, Mifsud, Maynard.....
You just couldn't make it up!
Nurse, nurse, I need a sides transplant - I've just split mine watching City's transfer shambles unfold!
Absolute 24 carat comedy.”
by Marc, Devon
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 7:20PM
“would be a great signing!! young, hungry striker! up next should be that replacement for Nick Carle we were promised!!!”