Phil SumblerCrystal Palace seem to have finally reached agreement with a manager who is prepared to work with their terms as they are set to confirm former Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Viera as their new manager.
Cooper has been favourite, second favourite, nowhere near favourite again and now cast aside on the list of potential replacements for Roy Hodgson in a managerial search that has kept us highly amused during the summer.
Cooper never actually appeared to really be first choice as they moved to two managers who were nearing appointment but never got over the line and finally today they appear to have got their man. Or at least their third choice of man.
Cooper was rumoured to have spoken to Palace several times but it always looked reasonably clear that they weren’t fully convinced on his credentials and now we seem to have to either sit back and wait to see what Fulham – another one who seems less than convinced by his ability – do or know that Cooper is here for another season.
The rumoured £3m release clause appeared to be a stumbling block for Palace and it has been suggested that it could be the same for Fulham for a manager with just two years club football behind him. Its the alleged compensation price on his head and one that it seems clubs aren’t that interested in paying.
What happens next is anyone’s guess but the Selhurst Park door closed firmly in Cooper’s face and we wait to see what the next moves are.
‘To Baulk’ – verb. Oxford dictionary says: It’s what football clubs do when Swansea City ask a reasonable amount of money for a player or manager under contract. Examples: Crystal Palace and Fulham baulk at the compensation fee asked for Steve Cooper. Tottenham baulked at the very reasonable fee asked for Joe Roden. Burnley and Southampton will, no doubt, baulk at the fees asked for Connor Roberts and Matty Grimes. This baulking, however, does not apply to other football clubs. Norwich ask £25 million for a defender. The buying club pays up. Brentford ask £33million for a striker. The buyer pays up.
I am going down to Tesco in Swansea and baulk at £1.20 for a loaf of Braces. I will pay 20p and offer an add-on of 10p if The Incredible String Band gets the Christmas number one. Get ready, folks, for a lot of baulking in this current transfer window… because we are Swansea City.