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Unhappy Bruce hits out over delay to Darren Bent deal
Andrew Hodgson05.08.09
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has spoken of his increasing frustration at the way Spurs have handled the transfer of Darren Bent.
Talks between the Wearside club and the striker began when Bent was hauled off the team plane that was heading for China last Monday.
But the 25-year-old then damaged his cause by launching a tirade against Spurs chairman Daniel Levy for holding up the deal on his Twitter website.
The striker was fined two weeks' wages and then apologised clearing the way for the £14million transfer to be finalised.
Bent underwent a medical yesterday and agreed personal terms but the deal had still not been finalised last night with Levy away in America.
It is expected to finally go through today but Bruce is not happy at the length of time that it has taken.
Speaking after watching his team win 2-0 in a friendly at Peterborough, Bruce said: "I have been saying it for days but we have just got to be patient and hope that we can get it (the deal) over the line in the next 24 hours.
"It is a delay between the two clubs, obviously Mr Levy is in America so there are one or two little items that the two clubs are yet to agree upon.
"We still believe that we will get there but I know that there is a player here (Bent) who remains genuinely frustrated.
"We are all frustrated after eight or nine days so you can imagine how Darren feels.
"Darren thought we had reached an agreement and he is all raring to go but we will just have to wait."
Reader views (22)
In response to Rob (Gooner/Hotspur) personally I enjoy Mr Wenger's pathetic annual pre-season war cries about silverware, maturity, this is the year blah, blah, blah. Most Woolwich supporters thesedays care more about the soulless stadium that they play in as opposed to the winning of trophies.
- Mark, Essex
Cheers Jamie.
Just released to the Stock Exchange:"Tottenham Hotspur plc announces that agreement has been reached for the transfer of the player registration of Darren Bent to Sunderland AFC for a total consideration of up to £16.5 million." THAT'S why Levy is the Man. Hope Bent is a total disaster for them. Can't wait for the home match.
- Dixta, N. London
Once again - the Spuds make fools of themselves whilst everyone laughs at them. We all look forward so much to the Transfer Windows as we know that you lot are going to be making us laugh by either playing around on a deal as your chairman is an idiot or by buying back players you once sold or by sacking any half decent manager you've ever had or, and I have to say mostly, by your protestations that 'this is the year we're going to be fourth!' It's truly a pleasure watching it all unfold.
- Rob, London
Spot on Dixta.
- Jamie, essex
With add on payments we actually only lose £2.5Million which in todays current climate is amazing business for the club, well done Levy. He may have made a massive mistake with Jol and our transfer dealings last summer but show me a club that has not made a wrong call. A lot of transfers these days seem to be aggrovation with both clubs fighting for the best they can get and its no different with this one. Levy runs the tightest of ships, provides good funds for managers summer and January, keeps the clubs books balanced unlike the gooners who dont have a pot, has done a huge amount for the local community and charity foundations, and shows ambition to get Spurs to the highest level. So that means he is not good enough to run the club? As for this season I am glad we are not ranked up there to challenge as in previous summers and maybe we might surprise a few.
- Steve, WHITE HART LANE
Rob,if you are a Tottenham supporter, although the jury's still out on that one, take the wretched "s" off your name!
Now down to a bit of football. First, Hutton is a far better right back than Corluka; his problems are possibly to be found elsewhere, away from the football ground. Second, BAE might not be "excellent" but he's pretty good, as the FA Cup game against Mancs demonstrated. Only once did the then Footballer of the Year, Ronaldo, get past him and whilst one swallow doesn't make a summer, his overall perfomances during the season showed he's got a really good future.
Don't you agree? As for Levy, he has escaped criticism, whatever you think of the way he deals, because he sold Berbatov for £30,000,000+ and Keane for £19,000,000 - that's why.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England
Why does everyone rate Corluka as a right back ? Against Man Utd he gave up and was at fault for at least 2 of the goals, Rooney tore him to shreads. Move Corluka to centre back and leave teh right back spot to Hutton
- Mark, Canada
What comes around, goes around Mr Bruce.
You insisted on playing games with Spurs over Palacios in order to get the highest price so just take it on the chin and think on for next time maybe?
- Don Shittle, Braintree, Essex
Levy has been fantastic for Spurs & has pumped alot of money into the squad, why shouldnt he delay if he is not 100% happy with the deal!
I have complete & utter faith in the guy, if he's stalling there is a very good reason! Always has the best interests of the mighty SPURS!
- Chrism, London
If you run a business and are negotiating the sale of an asset for 12 million pounds then you'd want every i dotted and t crossed wouldn't you? Bruce should stick to working out his 442s and his 451s and leave the money side to the big boys. As for the bloggers who think they know better, unless you cut multimillion pound deals for a firm you own 50% of, jog on. And as for Darren Bent being frustrated by it all, after his revolting twitter and subsequent grovelling apology, who on earth cares what he thinks on 50k a week?! As a season ticket holder for 22 years, my opinion (which counts for infinitely more than Bruce, the bloggers and Bent put together) is that Levy plays the transfer market and runs Spurs pretty well.
- Dixta, N. London
i think rob gooner,hotspur,is the victor meldrew of london clubs...has he ever said anything positive about Spurs,hhmmm?? if he dislikes and moans about all the going on at the club why dont he go and support someone else...the club an the true fans here must be well chuffed he is on board.Bent was never good enough too replace Berba last year,poor 1st touch and too one dimensional...we are not the first and defo wont be the last to lose money on a flop, tho his record is not too bad,he just didnt fit in...lets have some positvity here for a cange not doom and gloom...c.o.y.s
- Tom, croxley
no-one will want to do business with Levy in future. He loves to play the power game by hanging on to a player until the very end. I ruined the season last year when Spurs had no time to replace Berbatov. This year he found someone prepared to pay good money for a flop (unless its a tap-in) and is still at it. Managers will avoid dealing with Levy and he will not be able to balance his books.
He has made it easier for himself though. All he needs to do is sack Harry and expect a call from him at his next job asking to sign Defoe and Crouch.
- Jon, london,England
Well said, Rob, though I believe I've pointed out on several occasions why Levy escapes so much criticism - just look at the reaction of the small sample of your "fans" on here to every single cack-handed thing he does.
Still, no doubt you'll be proven wrong when Big Club finishes in the top four as Pied Piper Harry so confidently (and the fools on here blindly follow).
By the way, for the rest of you, Rob Hotspurs can spell, punctuate, and has a realistic outlook on the club he actually follows. Rob Gooner cannot spell the word, "Vieira" (preferring "Vierra").
Not that it'll change anything. With your fingers in your ears singing "la la la laaa" the rest of you'll be celebrating a completely made-up link with Lionel Messi in no time.
- Stu, Beckton
in fairness to bent, his record wasnt too bad but the writing was on the wall once defoe and keane came back, wonder who we will spend the money on? we're linked with every player under the sun
- Simon, Dublin
There is nothing nice or postive to say about Rottenham, captain Black. Fans - disgusting & vile thugs, location - ghastly, success - hahahaha
- Nc, London
Captain - I can say something positive - I think the following team when fit & on form is excellent: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekoto (not excellent ooops, but no other choice!)- Lennon, Palacios, Jenas, Modric, Crouch & Defoe. My problem is that Jol had it so nearly right, without the interference of Comolli & Levy, we would be top 4 material. Our squad doesnt look right with players injured & others bound to become disatisfied I think we have problems. Hopefully, Im wrong. The reason I sound negative is that every season fellow Tottenham fans talk us up, only to disappoint. This season we are starting with 2 unfit center halves & a third unable to train. I fear that if not playing regularly Huddlestone, Pavylchenko, Chimbonda, Keane, Bale, Bentley, O'Hara & Hutton could become problematic. This is bearing mind that as we failed to qualify for europe we are only guaranteed 40 matches.
- Rob Hotspurs, South London
Hello, again, "Rob Gooner". Can't you ever say anything nice or positive about Tottenham?
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England
Drone on Rob, drone on....
Any chance you'd like to support the hammers instead?
Go on ! Rob Hammers has a better ring to it...
All in favour?
- Mark, St Albans
Having paid a massively inflated £16 million for Bent, we have managed to lose an astonishing £4 million, despite the current over-inflated market. How Levy has escaped severe criticism for his awful record as chairman, I will never know. Especially as we have now paid £9 million to replace Bent with Crouch who has an inferior scoring record, is 29 in January & as 'Harry' put it, has little future sell on value due to his age. Sorry, I forgot our transfer policy, Crouch is of course an ex-Tottenham player. Maybe thats why Levy is stalling the sale to Sunderland, as its easier just to give them a few million not to sign Bent, saving effort in re-signing him a few months later.
- Rob Hotspurs, South London
Bruce is rapidly becoming a serial moaner.
- Ted, London
If Darren Bent is worth the reported transfer fee of £12 million,it proves without a shadow of doubt that premier league football is in the grip of total lunacy.It is only a matter of time before the premier league goes bankrupt and I for 1 will not be sorry.I wish somebody,somewhere would drag it into the real world.
- Michael Monaghan, London
Stop complaining and get on with it. Bent isn't several million out of pocket if the deal goes through so of course he has a different perspective. Tottenham want x and Sunderland can it pay if they want so its as much their problem as any one else. Subject is getting boring now.
- Starkey, Australia
