Kenna blames transfer doubt - March 1, 2001
Blackburn's Jeff Kenna is blaming uncertainty over the transfer system for his failure to find a new club. The Republic of Ireland full back wants away from Ewood Park - but believes clubs are afraid to take the plunge because of the transfer row between UEFA and the European Union.
The European soccer authorities have been in protracted negotiations with Europe's political institutions ever since the EU told UEFA that the current transfer system is in breach of labour laws. The current practice of selling contracted players from one club to another runs contrary to European freedom-of-movement legislation.
Blackburn have slapped a £500,000 price-tag on Kenna's head - and the player believes that clubs are unwilling to buy contracted players now, when they may be able to get them for free in a couple of months' time.
"The transfer saga is not doing me any favours," he said. "Clubs are seemingly worried about making any rash decisions when they know that players they have spent money on could then be free to leave."
And international colleague Kenny Cunningham has revealed that players too are in the dark as to the future of the transfer system.
"We have never sat down as a whole with the (players') union to sort our all these transfer proposals," the Wimbledon defender said. "There are more than one or two players who are a bit confused. We are in the dark and a bit uneasy."