Lawrence reveals why Bristol Rovers had to sell Lambert
Lennie Lawrence says Bristol Rovers are in the market for a "tried and trusted" striker – preferably from the Championship – as they look to fill the void created by Rickie Lambert's move to Southampton.
Hitman Lambert agreed terms on a three-year deal with the Saints yesterday after the clubs finalised a transfer which could eventually earn the Pirates more than £1 million.
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They are understood to be receiving around £800,000 up front for the 27-year-old marksman, who scored 29 goals last season and found the net 51 times in his 128 league outings for the club.
Although landing a replacement for Lambert is a top priority, Bristol Rovers are expected to strengthen the squad further before the end of the month.
With Steve Phillips expected to join Turkish club Ankaragucu in the next few days, they have already landed keeper Rhys Evans on a month-long deal, and he will make his debut in tonight's Carling Cup clash against Aldershot at the Memorial Stadium.
Director of football Lawrence said: "There are three weeks before the transfer window closes and options for loan signings are ongoing. I'll be looking to do something along both those lines as soon as possible.
"We have to bring someone in who can produce at this level – preferably from a Championship club. That's what I'd like to see.
"We want someone in their mid-20s who can still appreciate in value as well. You have to look at those things when you are at the stage of development we are. In terms of a striker, we want a tried and tested one.
"We will look to strengthen the squad in other areas and in a couple of other directions in terms of loans coming in as well as purchases. A little bit of a change in personnel won't hurt at this stage."
Southampton are believed to have made an initial approach for Lambert on Friday with the deal thrashed out over the weekend.
It is believed the Saints – subject of a recent takeover by Swiss businessman Markus Liebherr – have trebled the wages Lambert was receiving at the Memorial Stadium.
And Bristol Rovers say once that sort of money was on the table, the chances of the player staying put were virtually nil.
"We felt that this was the right move for a player who will be 28 this season – and the club," added Lawrence.
"The way things are done these days, where the player knows what his salary will be before the fee is agreed, made it a virtually untenable situation for us.
"I don't begrudge Rickie in the slightest, but people have to understand the situation that we faced.
"Rickie is, deservedly, the highest paid player in the history of Bristol Rovers by a long way and Southampton have doubled his wages.
"That makes the player unmanageable if you like, because that's a life-changing move, especially at his age.
"We had to bear that in mind, get what we consider to be the right price and I, in conjunction with the chairman, have negotiated to get the best possible deal.
"It has been a long, difficult, process and it's something we finally achieved yesterday.
"Obviously we are sorry to see him go, but we would like to reassure supporters that we will be working hard to improve the team and the squad and we will be looking to bring a replacement in at the earliest available opportunity.
"But we aren't going to pay over the odds and we have to use the money wisely to strengthen where we need to.
"I think that we can still go on and succeed in this league in spite of a disappointing start on Saturday.
"But we have to be careful how we allocate our resources and decide clearly where we need to strengthen and how we need to do it."
Bristol Rovers' chairman Nick Higgs, said: "We are all sorry to see Rickie go as it had not been our intention to sell him. But at this stage of his career, the contract offered to him by Southampton would have been irresistible to him, and we could not match that."
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by MB, Bristol
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 10:40AM
“Not a wind-up Chelts,
I just accept that City are fortunate to have SL backing the club and a larger traditional fanbase, watching a much better standard of football.
Historically though, Rovers do like to revel in the mire of poor hard done by strugglers with a misconception of "passion" and loyalty.
Oh by the way, I was wrong about the 5,000 crowds according to the EP last night:
"Att: 3,644".”
by John, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 10:44PM
“RL has a 3 years deal for £12k per week so how were Rovers going to keep him? Its a good deal as long as we strengthen in the right areas. Permanent keeper signing, Left back and a big bloke up front. Until tonight I also thought they need a wide player but Bem Swallow looked a real gem!”
by Luke, Bordon
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 8:53PM
“I would say Tresor Kandol, Brett Pitman or Nathan Ellington would be good shouts and any of them would be great replacements”
by Chelts, Cheltenham
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 4:57PM
“Ah, I was right then. Took the bait. You sounded half intelligent in the first post but now you've spoiled it. It was a wind up after all.”
by GASMAN, GASLAND
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 3:59PM
“"We will look to strengthen the squad in other areas and in a couple of other directions in terms of loans coming in as well as purchases"
For crying out loud CityPete, if you insist on commenting on our team will you at least put your reading glasses on before spouting off ! MUPPET.”
by CityPete, bristol
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 3:01PM
“i do comment on city stories more then your gas stories but this story shows how most clubs take their fans for granted. even the most ardent gashead must wonder about timing and the truth about deal. They havent said money will be spent they only mention loan signings.”
by Dad, south of the river
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 3:00PM
“Now, now children, lets not bicker.
It seems there are two schools of thought here from those genuinely passing comment rather than being on the wind up. a) it was a good deal for everyone and the rovers board couldnt stand in his way, or b) the timing was poor and the board have made false promises about keeping better players.
theres probably a bit of truth in both but i feel also that they have slightly sold him on the cheap but maybe thats because there werent enough suitors to create a bidding war.
more importantly for gas heads their board need to reinvest the money wisely. thats the most important thing for them now. but Lennie Bennetts idea of getting a proven championship striker in his mid-twenties is comical. doesnt he know that they are like gold dust and even if you find one you'd be looking at double what they got for Lambert. This again sounds to me like a sound bite to appease mis-led fans.”
by James, Bedminster
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 2:53PM
“So Rovers could only afford half the wages that Lambert wanted. And now Lawrence thinks he is going to bring in a "tried and trusted" Championship striker with that wage budget? Good luck with that!”
by D, Bristol
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 2:12PM
“I think Davide just hit the nail on the head the timing of this stinks even if they only knew on Friday that he was going why in the hell did he play on Saturday?
Surely it would have made more sense to play Kuffour and Duffy together?
I think the point some people are trying to get across is not necessarily the deal itself (although i do think he was sold for far too little considering he had two years left on his contract!) as i can see the other point of view regarding his age etc but the way this and other matters are dealt with by the board and management and the seemingly non existant communication of information to the fans. It seems to me the fans are continually drip fed little bits of seemingly positive news every now and again to appease them. This definately seems to be the stuation with the stadium and the training facilities. I understand there are problems both financial and logistical in running a football club at this level and nobody expects the board or management to work miracles. But what we do expect is realistic, truthfull, and relevent information conveyed to us and not to be fed constant streams of false hopes and disapointments. After all its our money as well as members of the board being spent!”
by MB, Bristol
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 2:07PM
“Chelts, (what's up with CTFC?)
Nothing wrong with wanting to watch better quality football is there?
If you call it "passion" because half of you have to stand up and watch kick and rush football, then that's up to you.
Pasties are good though.
There's always the Downs League if you need to get your quota of grass roots football. (You might be in it soon anyway).
You lot just can't except that you are second-raters (look at the tables!) and seem to enjoy wallowing in self-pity and under-dog pride.
Enjoy...”