Beckford to Bolton

for £undisclosed, as usual. But we can take it that it's a move to get him off the books rather than a big pay day for us.

It's good news to me though, and at least frees up the wages to afford the players we want to keep. We'll see in time whether it frees up the funds to bring in any new players as well, although the days of high transfer fees are obviously over.

Still, I wish Beckford well in what will probably be a team of genuine contenders next year, with or without him. It'll be interesting to see how he does next year under someone who appears to be a very impressive young manager who he's played alongside before. The fact he's been given a two-year contract tells me that Bolton are giving themselves a bit of cover, but this is probably his last chance to rekindle his ambition and push for the big time.

As for us, I'm pleased that he's gone, simply for the release of a big, red minus number from the annual balance sheet. I doubt it'll stop the arguments over his ability and whether he could have done better for us with greater guidance and gentler management, but at least it'll make them irrelevant.