COVENTRY have been left fuming after Saints dramatically pulled the plug on a deal for Elliott Ward at the last minute – even after the player had said his goodbyes at his old club.
Executive chairman Nicola Cortese is understood to have backed out on Ward’s proposed move at the eleventh hour, leaving the player “gutted” according to sources.
Ward had said his farewells at the Ricoh Arena and was at the point where he was awaiting instructions on where to join up with his new teammates, who flew back in from a training camp in Spain on Tuesday, when he was told the deal was off.
Coventry and their chairman Ray Ranson are said to be infuriated at the decision, well placed sources told the Daily Echo last night, after they thought the transfer had been all but completed.
They have been left bemused at Saints’ late change of heart.
Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman was even informing people on Tuesday night, after the club’s heartbreaking FA Cup replay defeat to Pompey, that the centre half was on his way to the south coast on an 18-month deal.
Although Ward is no longer in Coleman’s plans, the Welshman remains on very good terms with him and is apparently extremely unimpressed that the transfer was allowed to progress that far before the rug was pulled from beneath the defender’s feet.
They have been left bemused at Saints’ late change of heart.
Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman was even informing people on Tuesday night, after the club’s heartbreaking FA Cup replay defeat to Pompey, that the centre half was on his way to the south coast on an 18-month deal.
Although Ward is no longer in Coleman’s plans, the Welshman remains on very good terms with him and is apparently extremely unimpressed that the transfer was allowed to progress that far before the rug was pulled from beneath the defender’s feet.
Coventry had been content to lose the 24-year-old off the wage bill, with his contract up at the end of the season.
However, rather than Ward, Saints instead announced the capture of Exeter City centre back Dan Seaborne yesterday morning.
The 22-year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at St Mary’s.
He is the second centre back to have joined Saints this month, after Alan Pardew secured the signature of Crystal Palace’s highly-rated Jose Fonte last Saturday.
Ward was keen to move to St Mary’s as he knows Pardew well from their time together at West Ham.
Ward came through the youth ranks at Upton Park, turning professional in 2001 at the age of 16.
Pardew handed him his first team debut in August 2004, as the Hammers defeated Southend in the League Cup.
After a brief loan spell to prove himself at Bristol Rovers, Ward finished the 2004/05 season as a key member of the West Ham first team.
He notched up 14 appearances at the back end of the campaign as the Hammers secured promotion to the Premier League.
This included playing the full 90 minutes in the play-off semi-finals against Ipswich and the play-off final against Preston at the Millennium Stadium that ensured the club’s return to the top flight.
However, after promotion, he was limited to four Premier League games for the Hammers, either side of a successful loan spell at Plymouth.At the end of the 2005/06 season Pardew sold Ward to Coventry for £1m.
Saints would not comment on where they were with a deal for Ward.
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