DUFC News - Cammy Bell Special

I know what you're thinking - a DUFC News is special enough without having to do a SPECIAL one.

But yes, this is indeed a special edition which is going to focus on one specific issue, and that's the proposed transfer of Cammy Bell to Kilmarnock which took a new and unexpected twist last night.

For those of you who have been following this saga, it has been widely known for weeks that Bell was going to be moving to Killie during this window, with the reason being that his family are down that way and he wants to stop travelling.

United then went out and made a couple of signings that seemed to cement that, with Lewis and Deniz coming in and featuring in all the Betfred Cup group games. It certainly looked like Bell was definitely for the off.

But then last night United released a statement on their website which advised that Bell was available for transfer and United were looking for a transfer fee for him.

Bell has then been quoted in the S*n saying that he knows nothing about any transfer.

This all seems a little messy. Needless to say, the usual elements in the United support are apoplectic about it and were rushing to condemn the club because, well, that's what they do.

So this is my take - United and Bell had a gentleman's agreement he would go. United agreed a deal in principle with Killie. United went out and recruited replacements given that deal in principle. Killie then went back on that deal and, imo, didn't want to pay a transfer fee and felt they had United over a barrel since we'd already signed two keepers. United held firm and demanded a fee. Killie said no. United are now forcing the issue by announcing that he is available in the hope that Killie will buckle and pay up. And as for Bell's comments, I find it unlikely he was unaware since everyone and their granny know that the deal was in the pipeline.

Now, this is all speculation on my part and I'm not ITK.

But as I say, some United fans can't wait to get stuck into the club because 'they announced it on twitter' (they didn't), 'they've embarrassed the club' (they didn't) and 'it's just a mess' (well yes, but not entirely of the clubs making).

Hopefully this will all get cleared up quickly and we can re-focus on the start of the league campaign. I'm pretty certain that we won't see Bell in goal for United again and the sooner he moves on the better imo - but the club are quite right to hold out for a fee from Killie and I fully support it.

Mon the Terrors