Rovers boss wants McKeever - February 21, 2001
Bristol Rovers boss Gary Thompson wants his on-loan Irish striker, Mark McKeever, to move permanently - and that would be just fine with the Memorial Stadium fans.
The Derry-born Republic of Ireland underage international was a huge hit during his previous loan period two years ago. Unfortunately, though he doesn't figure in the first team there, McKeever is apparently popular at Hillsborough too!
It was the Wednesday fans who persuaded then manager Paul Jewell to pull out of a £50,000 permanent deal agreed with Thompson's predecessor, Ian Holloway, earlier this season. They blitzed the club with e-mails and letters demanding that McKeever stay.
Now Jewell is gone too - and Thompson hopes the Owls can be persuaded to change their minds again.
Thompson said: "I'd love to have Mark with us on a permanent basis because I rate him a very talented player.
"I've yet to speak to my board about it, but I am sure the directors know the way I am thinking."