Arsenal players considered soft-centred gave lion-hearted displays against Tottenham

Arsenal's sudden return to form in their 5-2 win over arch rivals Tottenham was exemplified in four key ways.

Sheer joy: Tomas Rosicky celebrates his goal 

Team spirit
The pre-match words of Emmanuel Petit summed up the general view on the strength of this Arsenal team’s backbone. “These players are fragile, they can sink. They are peacocks in the middle of the farm,” he said. Not on Sunday. From 2-0 down after 34 minutes – and with the whole of the Emirates ready to rise up in rebellion amid the fear of another rout — they were like lions. It was, by any standards, a truly extraordinary display of character.

Tactics
The teamsheet would have caused considerable alarm to Arsenal fans. No Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Gervinho, while in came Yossi Benayoun and Tomas Rosicky. The entire defence that succumbed against AC Milan was also again selected. It all left Arsenal looking soft-centred. Instead, though, they flooded the midfield and dominated the vast majority of the game. Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, later said that Harry Redknapp was right to bring on Sandro and Rafael van der Vaart in an attempt to “thicken” the Tottenham Hotspur midfield, but Emmanuel Adebayor simply became isolated. “We were technically faster and superior to them,” said Wenger.

Finishing
Arsenal are used to losing matches even after enjoying the majority of possession. It all points to a general profligacy in front of goal that has been masked by the extraordinary goal-scoring form of Robin van Persie. On Sunday, though, was a moment when others in the squad were equally clinical. Theo Walcott converted his two chances superbly, Tomas Rosicky scored his first Premier League goal in two years while Bacary Sagna’s headed finish would have pleased an established centre-forward. Yossi Benayoun was also a constant threat.

Leadership
Whenever Wenger is questioned about the perceived absence of leaders in this Arsenal team, it has become almost a standard response to cite all the players who have captained their country. With Tottenham taking a 2-0 lead and Scott Parker initially dominant, it was the moment when Wenger needed his leaders. Robin van Persie immediately dragged Arsenal off the floor with several near-misses before his wonderful equaliser, while Rosicky produced his most influential performance in his six years at the club.

Jose Mourinho return is possible – but he has to say sorry to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich

There are 18 million reasons why it might be hard for Jose Mourinho to return to Chelsea this summer if – and it is still an if – Roman Abramovich decides he wants to part company with Andre Villas-Boas and go back for the self-styled “Special One”.

Building bridges: Jose Mourinho had some contact with Chelsea over the summer 

“It’s possible,” said one source, who knows about these kind of things, in a text message when contacted on Thursday which, in itself, is a significant shift of what was thought about Mourinho’s prospects not so long ago. Then it was believed hell would freeze over first.

There has undoubtedly been some rapprochement between club and former manager, starting last summer following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti, when Mourinho’s name was mentioned but they decided to go for Villas-Boas who, it was hoped, would be like his fellow Portuguese but without the abrasive edge.

Certainly relations are not as ice cold as they were when Mourinho challenged Abramovich to sack him in September 2007 — and the Russian billionaire did.

Mourinho has made no secret that he wants to return to the Premier League when he leaves Real Madrid, and that could well happen this summer, but as much as he might consider Tottenham Hotspur should Harry Redknapp go — had they a new stadium on stream, it would help — and as much as he still has a romantic notion about Liverpool and an interesting bond with Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Chelseaare in his system.

And how it would appeal to Mourinho’s sense of mischief — and maybe revenge — to succeed Villas-Boas, his former protégé, the mini-Mourinho who had the temerity to ask for more responsibility then branched out to be a manager in his own right. The two no longer speak.

But then there are is the £18million in compensation that Mourinho wrung out of Abramovich, including £10million to exclude him from working in England for a period. That was to put off Spurs, and it worked, but it was a high price to pay for Abramovich, even if he has since wasted many more millions compensating managers he has sacked.

So here’s the rub. Maybe if there is a vacancy and Mourinho does want to return he might have to do something that he would find difficult: apologise to Abramovich for leaving five years ago with that lorry-load of cash. The owner indulges in generous payouts. But he does not readily forgive. Could Jose say sorry?

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe says Sunday's north London derby is more important for Arsenal

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe believes Sunday's north London derby is now a bigger game for Arsenal than for Harry Redknapp's side.

Praying hands: Jermain Defoe will be hoping to play a part on Sunday, when Spurs can complete a north London derby double against Arsenal

Arsenal have experienced arguably their worst season under Arsène Wenger's stewardship, are vying with Chelsea for fourth place and are almost certainly out of the Champions League following their humiliating 4-0 defeat in the first leg of their last-16 tie at AC Milan last week.

Meanwile Tottenham's attacking play, and the excellent form of Scott Parker, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric have made them one of the best teams to watch in the top flight.

For that reason, Defoe thinks three points will matter more to Arsenal than Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.

"It means more to Arsenal than us obviously because of the way things have gone for them this season," he said in an interview with radio station LBC.

"I think it's been a lot of ups and downs, where at the beginning they didn't start too well, then they picked it up and then they've had a little blip again."

Arsenal have been seen as the strongest team in north London for the best part of the last two decades but this year has seen the balance of power tip to White Hart Lane and Defoe is confident his team can complete their first north London derby double in almost 20 years .

"It's going to be a difficult game but I'm confident, obviously, with the way we're playing," Defoe said..

A win for Spurs would stretch their lead over fourth-placed Arsenal to 13 points with 12 matches of the season left.

Harry Redknapp's side overcame their bitter rivals 2-1 at White Hart Lane in October, but they have not done the double over the Gunners in the league since the 1992-93 campaign.

Having lost just once in their last 15 games, the Tottenham squad are upbeat about their chances of claiming a telling victory, according to Defoe.

"We've got a really strong squad now and everyone's playing well," he said.

"Everyone's firing and team spirit is fantastic which I think is always important if you want to try to achieve something.

"We've got a great chance to go there and get three points."

Arsenal controlled large parts of the reverse fixture at the start of the season and would have come away with a point had it not been for Kyle Walker's wonder strike 17 minutes from time.

Defoe is wary about taking Sunday's opponents lightly despite their recent poor form.

"I've always said they're a good team," he said.

"You can't write Arsenal off. In football it's always the next game, you can change it in the next one.

"And I think, playing against us, it'll be a different Arsenal from what people have seen over the last few weeks."

Defoe has scored just once in 14 north London derby appearances and is likely to be on the bench for Sunday's game.

Emmanuel Adebayor missed last weekend's FA Cup fifth-round draw at Stevenage after twisting his knee in training but is expected to be fit for what promises to be a hostile return to his old club.

He is likely to be partnered up front by Rafael van der Vaart, who is in full training after recovering from a calf injury that has kept him out of the last three games.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas and his players called to summit with owner Roman Abramovich

Roman Abramovich held a crisis meeting with Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas and the first-team squad at the club’s Cobham training ground in Surrey on Sunday with fears growing that the season is unravelling.

Honest Andre: Villas-Boas has admitted his team was left wanting at Everton

The players were hauled in after they were told their scheduled day off had been cancelled immediately after the 2-0 away defeat to Everton which saw Chelsea slip to fifth in the Premier League table.

Abramovich ordered a series of meetings to attempt to clear the air as the Russian billionaire becomes increasingly concerned as to whether Chelsea will finish in the top four this season and, therefore, fail to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since he took ownership of the club in 2003.

The pressure has risen dramatically on Villas-Boas whose own position would now appear under threat for the first time since he was appointed following a run of just two victories in their last 10 league matches and with the vital Champions League tie against Napoli looming, after this weekend’s FA Cup Fifth Round fixture against Birmingham.

Abramovich has been conspicuous by his presence at Chelsea’s training ground over the last days, observing training sessions and closely monitoring Villas-Boas’ methods and how the players react to him.

The manager has brushed aside any concerns over Abramovich’s increased presence – it is partly to do with the ending of his High Court case with Boris Berezovsky – and insisted he retains the full support of the owner.

He did, however acknowledge after the defeat at Everton that finishing in the top four is a prerequisite.

“Of course. Of course. Of course,” he said. “We need Champions League qualification and that’s what we expect. The objective is first place but first place is not a real objective any more — and neither is second.

"So Champions League qualification is the least you can ask for.”

It was solely Abramovich’s decision to appoint Villas-Boas and the cost of releasing him from his contract at Porto and sacking his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti last May has been put at £28 million in the club’s recently released accounts.

Abramovich has been fully supportive of Villas-Boas in the realisation that changes need to be made at Chelsea and that the club is in a year of transition. If a change is made it will be made reluctantly and only after every avenue is pursued to try and support Villas-Boas.

Abramovich would countenance 'only’ a top four finish this year as long as Chelsea show signs of progressing under Villas-Boas – and an attacking, exciting style of play is important – and do well in the two cup competitions they remain in.

However if it is decided that the 34-year-old Portuguese is struggling then Abramovich has a history of showing that he will not hesitate to sack a manager, despite the cost.

With that in mind, and judging by precedent, the FA Cup tie and, more importantly, the Champions League tie could be key to determining Villas-Boas’s future.

The two-legged tie bookends three league matches against sides in the bottom half of the table – Bolton, West Brom and Stoke – and Abramovich will expect Chelsea to win all three as well as progress in the FA Cup and Champions League.

It is understood that some Chelsea players, who have witnessed Abramovich’s presence at the club before in such scenarios, believe the manager is now vulnerable.

Villas-Boas loves talking strategy, but there were not too many tactical options left as he sought a response to the fans’ anger after this latest defeat.

“Fans have the right to demand from a manager and from the players,” he added.

“If there are persons who are always right, it is the fans.

"They have the right to demand. So maybe they were expecting a different kind of approach to the game.

"When we went 2-0 down the only way we felt we could continue to create problems was to try and bring more striking strength up front and that’s why we went for three up front.

The visiting fans let rip twice. Firstly, with dubious justification when Michael Essien was replaced by Florent Malouda in the 70th minute.

Their discontent was more audible and valid when Juan Mata, the only decent Chelsea player on an abysmal afternoon, was replaced 12 minutes from time.

The gulf between the owners’s vision of a less methodical Chelsea and the reality of passionless players, some of whom do not appear to have the legs or desire to change, is what is undermining Villas-Boas’ aspirations.

It is a bit like ordering him to restyle the house without stripping it of the tired old furniture and wallpaper.

Everton, inspired by Steven Pienaar and Landon Donovan, expertly exposed the familiar flaws of an unprotected and careless defence.

Pienaar, thriving on his return to Goodison Park, struck after five minutes. Denis Stracqualursi, another loanee who may convince Moyes to make the arrangement permanent, secured victory in the second half.

Donovan, the game’s other outstanding contributor, returns to LA Galaxy after next week’s FA Cup tie against Blackpool, ensuring a level of frustration to balance the euphoria.

It was a shame for Moyes that Chelsea’s ineptitude overshadowed the annual Goodison New Year revival, which suddenly makes European qualification seem possible.

Minutes after the final whistle, Villas-Boas was standing at the top of the exhausting, long staircase which leads to the Everton press room as he fended off the inevitable questions about his future.

It was in precisely the same position eight months earlier that Carlo Ancelotti’s responses to defeat were cut short by a statement confirming his sacking.

Yet, it is not the ghost of Ancelotti that haunts Villas-Boas, or those of his predecessors.

It is that of Jose Mourinho, and his extraordinary legacy, which has given none of his successors enough time to prosper.

Harry Redknapp 'flattered' to be linked with England job

Harry Redknapp 'overwhelmed' by England players' support, says son

Jamie Redknapp says his father, Spurs boss Harry, is "overwhelmed" by the calls urging him to manage England.

"He is overwhelmed by the positive messages from England players such as Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand," said Jamie Redknapp, now a pundit for Sky.

Writing in the Daily Mail,  Redknapp said Fabio Capello's resignation as England manager surprised his father.

"He said, 'no chance it will get to that with Capello, is there?'," said Redknapp Jr.

Continue reading the main story

“

Jamie Redknapp also said his father's recent trial for tax evasion and the five-year investigation preceding it had made the Tottenham manager ill with worry.

"He has been anxious and angry - worrying about my mum, worrying what would happen to her if he ended up with a guilty verdict," wrote Jamie, who was with his father in court throughout the trial.

"The only time that I can compare to the feeling of relief and joy of my dad's unanimous [not guilty] verdict was when my two boys were born," the former Liverpool, Spurs and England midfielder added.

"My family has gone from one storm to another, but I prefer this storm."

Redknapp Jr also confirmed that the FA had not offered the England job to his father and said it was not a foregone conclusion his father would accept it if they were to do so, because he enjoys working at Tottenham and with chairman Daniel Levy.

"Even if they have their moments, Dad likes working for him," wrote Jamie. "But Daniel Levy gave him a job he loves. Together they have made Spurs stronger."

Redknapp also believes the FA should resist any desire to appoint a foreign manager, despite the strides made by foreign club managers in the Premier League.

"I think the next England manager should be English, but I understand what the continental managers have brought to our football," he said.

"Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Mancini are richly talented individuals but they can speak good English and their players understand them."

Liverpool's Luis Suárez deserved red card for Scott Parker kick, says Wayne Rooney

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney has increased tensions ahead of this weekend's toxic clash with Liverpool by claiming Luis Suárez deserved a red card for kicking Tottenham's Scott Parker at Anfield.

Suarez was given a rapturous reception from Liverpool fans following his return from an eight-match ban when he came on as a 66th minute subtitute at Anfield.

But the controversial Uruguay striker's first taste of action since Dec 26 ended in frustration as Liverpool were held to a goalless draw - with the former Ajax player booked for kicking Tottenham's Scott Parker in the stomach.

However Rooney stirred up proceedings ahead of Liverpool's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday in the Premier League by airing his thoughts on Twitter.

"If ref sees that kick from Suarez and books him for it, it should be red," Rooney wrote on his account.

The view was endorsed by former United team-mate Gary Neville in his role as Sky TV pundit. Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish opted not to get involved in that argument, saying: "He just never saw him.

Then, when informed of what had been said he replied: "Who said that? Why don't you tweet Wayne back and give him your answer.

"I don't have a view on what they have tweeted, especially when I have not seen it. If Neville or Wayne were standing there and asked me the question, I could answer them.

"I don't think you can speak for either Gary or Wayne so unless they want to ask me the question, I will just plead the fifth amendment."

Liverpool's errant striker Luis Suárez must learn from his chequered past starting with Tottenham Hotspur

Luis Suárez returns to football in Liverpool’s game at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night, having served his eight-game suspension for racially abusing Patrice Evra. He does so a divisive figure.

Blast from the past: Luis Suárez celebrates after scoring for Ajax Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

On Merseyside many fans have stood resolutely behind him and sung his name after the 2-1 FA Cup win over Manchester United two weeks ago. If he can expect solidarity at Anfield, so he can expect hostility on tour, starting at Old Trafford on Feb 11. Few neutrals will have much sympathy while the partisans will relentlessly probe Suárez for a reaction, as happened when he swore at fans at Fulham before his suspension. In his first year at Liverpool he has proved himself a formidable talent but can he continue to show this positive side of his game in the face of hostility? How will Suárez cope with his pariah status?

Looking into his past, Suárez emerges as a complicated, contradictory character, a ferociously driven player who inspires loyalty in team-mates and coaches yet one who has repeatedly transgressed boundaries of acceptable behaviour. His fusion of anger and talent is both the source of his strength and his weakness.

Suárez grew up in the slums of Salto, one of seven siblings. At seven he went to live with his grandmother in Montevideo, the Uruguyan capital. When he got there he immersed himself in street football. His father Rodolfo and his brothers Paolo and Max all played to a good level. Luis was soon picked up by the Nacional academy and, even in his teens, his technical ability was allied to a resolute ruthlessness.

Mathias Cardacio, a friend from the academy, tells the story of when they won 21-0 in a youth team game. Suárez scored 17 of them. “Uruguayans never accept defeat,” Cardacio said. “But Luis is different to everyone. He never thinks he has won. He always wants more.”

The technical director of Nacional, Daniel Enriquez, said that coaches had a tough time taming Suárez. In one game, when he was still 15, he apparently lost his temper with a referee and butted him. “The referee had a broken nose and was bleeding like a cow,” Enriquez was quoted as saying of the incident. “We punished Luis heavily and told him it was the end.”

Fortunately for Suárez his older brother Paolo mediated and helped talk some sense into the errant adolescent. The acceleration of his development was remarkable and he was soon in the first team. He possessed what in Latin American football they call picardia, a cunning or craftiness needed to gull the opposition.

At 19, he scored in both legs of the championship play-off to win the Uruguayan title in 2006. A move to Europe beckoned and as his girlfriend Sofia’s family had relocated to Barcelona, the move could not come soon enough. His destination proved somewhat unexpected: the northern Dutch university town of Groningen. The club had a reputation for a brilliant scouting network but Ron Jans, Suárez’s first coach at Groningen, explained that his signing was a bit of a fluke.

“This was the most crazy transfer we ever made,” he said. “The director and the technical manager had gone to Montevideo to look at a different player. This guy didn’t impress but they went to another match and saw Suárez. After 15 minutes our director, who is an impulsive man, said he wanted him.”

Henk Veldmate, the technical director who went on that trip, says they had not been completely unaware of Suárez but that they had gone to the Nacional game rather than back to the hotel. “Everything that you see now was visible,” he said. “He scored a goal, showed he was a real winner. He was arguing with the defenders and the referee. After the game we met with him and he had a really strong personality. From that moment we knew he had what it takes to survive in Europe.”

Having been given a three-week holiday, he turned up at Groningen, in Jans’s words, “a little heavy”. He was promptly put in the reserves to get fit. “He was a real character,” Jans said. “He hated it when he found out he was going to have to play in the second team first. There was one training session when he was doing nothing. I brought the whole group together and said to Suárez in front of them: ‘You promised 100 per cent and you are doing nothing and playing like s---.’ I saw in his eyes he could kill me.

“After the session I told him to come and see me alone. The first thing I did was say ‘sorry’. He was surprised. I told him: ‘I should not have shouted at you in front of everyone. But now, you have to promise me that you’ll train 100 per cent.’ That moment helped make it a really great relationship.”

That relationship had its rocky moments. “There was one incident when he had been substituted,” recalled Jan Mennega, a former Groningen player and respected local journalist. “Jans said something to him and he said something back. Whatever it was made the coach really angry. It was raining and the coach had an umbrella so he threw it at Suárez. Then, two weeks later, Groningen were playing Vitesse Arnhem and losing

3-1 with 15 minutes to go. Suárez was incredible. He scored two goals and the team won 4-3. When Suárez scored the winner he ran to the side of the pitch and picked up an umbrella and gave it to the coach. It showed he had a sense of humour.”

While at Ajax, Suárez’s battle with officialdom was established, the cards coming as fast as the goals: in one typical spell in January 2007 he was booked three times and sent off once, but also scored four goals.

To get to Ajax, Suárez had taken Groningen to the Dutch Football Association’s arbitration committee and, while they found in Groningen’s favour, Suárez’s desire to leave brought a compromise and a €7.9 million (£6.5 million) fee was agreed. “When there is something in his head no one will get it out,” Veldmate said.

He became tremendously popular at Ajax and his goalscoring ratio went through the roof (he scored 111 in 3½ seasons). His club form was replicated with Uruguay and he was one of the outstanding players at the 2010 World Cup. Then came the quarter-final with Ghana. Saving a goalbound effort with his hand was bad enough but his wild celebrations after the ensuing penalty miss, broadcast worldwide, did not go down well in a continent seeking its first African semi-finalist at its first home World Cup.

Having had only five days’ rest after the World Cup before Ajax’s first Champions League qualifier and with the birth of his daughter in August, Suárez was tired and tetchy when he returned to Ajax. In a November game with PSV Eindhoven he got involved in a mêlée after a team-mate had been sent off. Otman Bakkal apparently stamped on Suárez’s foot, the Uruguayan responded by biting Bakkal’s shoulder.

In the aftermath the Dutch press called him the ‘Cannibal of Ajax’ and the Dutch FA banned him for seven games. Suárez uploaded an apology to his Facebook page. The then Ajax coach, Martin Jol, jokingly tried to defend his player (“maybe he was hungry”) but Ajax criticised him on their website. Suárez was apparently disappointed by the perceived lack of support and a few months later he moved to Liverpool.

The pattern recurs. His talent continues to flourish at ever higher levels — he was the player of the tournament as Uruguay won the Copa America last summer — but in those moments when competition consumes him, he seems unable to prevent himself transgressing.

Jans insists that while his actions have let him down, he is fundamentally not a malicious person. “His corazon [heart] is really great,” he said. “He is a real family man, very generous. But when he is playing he does everything to win. He needs to learn that you can do a lot to help you win but not everything.”

This loyalty is echoed by many people who have worked with Suárez, even in the face of some pretty reprehensible behaviour. The loyalty is not inexhaustible though and he must be conscious of that as he seeks to rebuild his reputation. At 25 he needs to show that he is learning from his mistakes. It will not be an easy road.

Patrick Bamford's Chelsea move a sign of times - Forest

Nottingham Forest chairman Frank Clark fears their failure to fend off Chelsea's interest in £1.5m striker Patrick Bamford is a worrying sign of how the footballing landscape has changed.

The Grantham-born teenager had been with Forest's youth set-up from the age of eight and had only played 12 minutes of first-team football.

But a series of eye-catching displays in the FA Youth Cup tempted thePremier League giants to splash out for the 18-year-old's services.

Although Clark fully understands Bamford's decision, the former Forest boss says it is a shame the much-coveted striker moved on before he had the chance to shine at the City Ground.

PATRICK BAMFORD

Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire but lives in Newark, Nottinghamshire

Joined the City Ground Academy at the age of eight

Made his debut for the England Under-18s side in November 2010 and had previously represented the Republic of Ireland at U-18 level

Has only played 12 minutes for Nottingham Forest in the Championship

Can play on the left wing or in attack

And given Forest's current predicament, which sees Steve Cotterill's side second from bottom in the Championship table and four points adrift of safety, the timing of the move could hardly have been worse for supporters.

"I'm disappointed I'm not going to see Patrick develop in a Nottingham Forest shirt over the next two years," Clark told BBC Radio Nottingham .

"We used to be able to hang on to players for a couple of years into the first team - Michael Dawson, Andy Reid , Marlon Harewood, Jermaine Jenas - people like that - before the big clubs came in.

"But now the real big clubs are paying fortunes for kids of 13, 14, 15, 16. They are not prepared to wait. It's getting more and more difficult for clubs like ourselves to hang on to the really talented players."

Bamford has only made two brief first-team appearances, his debut coming as a substitute on the last day of 2011 against Cardiff City .

But he scored four goals in the 5-1 FA Cup Youth win at Southampton and five in the previous round - a 9-1 hammering of Wigan Athletic - and that prompted Chelsea to lure him to Stamford Bridge on a five-year contract.

Continue reading the main story

“My only worry is that I'm an Arsenal fan and he's gone to Chelsea”

Kevin FearNottingham High School for Boys headmaster

Bamford's progress is even more remarkable considering he went to the independent Nottingham High School where football has to wait until the sixth form.

Head of PE Martin Smith told BBC Sport: "We're very much a rugby school.

"He was a talented sportsman when he joined but not exceptional. He certainly wasn't one of the stars. He played full-back mostly, every Saturday until the end of Year 10.

"At that stage he was training for Forest Saturdays and midweek. Speaking to his dad, the rugby stood him in good stead for football and toughened him up. As I remember he wasn't the strongest tackler.

"We adapted his timetable so that he could train with Forest. We made every effort to accommodate him.

"Quite a buzz went around the school when the news broke (of his transfer to Chelsea) and we'll follow his career carefully."

Headmaster Kevin Fear added: "It's really quite unusual for someone from an independent school to make it in the world of football.

"In the sixth form we allowed him to train with Forest and do his A-levels. He's a very bright lad.

"He did French, History, Biology and General Studies and got a good set of A-Level results.

"Patrick could have gone to university but decided to concentrate on his football.

"He's a lovely lad we are very proud of what he has achieved. He deserves to be successful.

"My only worry is that I'm an Arsenal fan and he's gone to Chelsea."

Use accessible player and disable flyout menus

Bamford was out of contract in the summer but been offered the most lucrative deal ever tabled by Forest for a player his age.

Clark insists the club did all they could to keep the free-scoring forward.

"It was a really difficult decision for us," he added. "The club had been negotiating with Patrick's father and his agent since the start of the season.

"Steve Cotterill saw him play in the reserves and immediately moved him up to start training with the first team. I had a meeting with his agent and his father and didn't get anywhere.

"When Patrick made the first-team appearance we immediately offered him a much-improved contract - the best contract that's ever been offered to an 18-year-old at this club.

"Then he gave two outstanding displays in the two Youth Cup games. So we redoubled our efforts to get him to sign this contract to no avail.

Five former Nottingham High School for Boys pupils

Andy Turner (athlete and Olympian)

Leslie Crowther (comedian and quiz show host)

Ken Clarke (politician)

DH Lawrence (writer)

Greig Tonks (Northampton Saints rugby player)

"And then we get this offer from Chelsea. Patrick and his father wanted the opportunity to go and speak to Chelsea. We took the decision that we'd have do that and ride it out and see what happens, hoping that he wouldn't go.

"We hoped that Patrick would get down to Chelsea and think 'I'd rather stay in Newark with all my friends and I'd rather stay at Nottingham Forest with all my friends' but obviously I can understand.

"The deal's done and the money is there. Hopefully Steve will be able to use it in the summer and restructure the club. The full lot has been paid up front. There's add-ons, sell-ons."