So much for doing business behind closed doors.

Let's translate Bates commets here:

"I had him (at Chelsea) when he made his debut at 17 and scored two goals. He's 30 so he's still young, footballer-wise. He's fit, he's strong, he's big and he wants to play in England.

Translation - I had him 13 years ago and because he scored 2 goals on his debut I think he could do a job for our side even though the manager said he doesn't need strikers.

He's not as old as Brown or as injured as most of our other strikers.

"He's turned down a chance to go to Greece and he wants to play for us. We're hoping we can tie that one down."

Translation - He knows that we have a good reputation for giving over the hill players and crocks one last pay day and there is every chance he wont play but we'll pay off his contract at some point.

We really want him to play for free, but he is expecting some wages.

I remember when he was having a good season at Birmingham years ago, Robbie Savage said in an interview that he must be worth at least 20m

Everyone's young when you're 106 or whatever Bates is. Love the idea of Eddie getting his boots back on, ready replacement for Max maybe?

I'm about to turn 30, he is young! He is!

This looks to me like a Bates/Williams signing that Grayson doesn't really want.

Utter rubish this is a grayson signing from top to bottom

30s,No pace,no tricks, cant score,

It is a grayson signing

I'm just thinking of the Chelsea connection and the fact that the deal is dragging on.

agree that grayson probably doesnt want him but cant say no bates (because bates hasnt told him to say no)

If Grayson doesn't want him he must be pretty good at least.

I have no issue with us signing him.

Just confused why we didn't let Billy Elliot join Brighton for 250k!

Also, more concerned with our defence. Too many average defenders - can we not get rid and sign proper class in defence?

Creative midfielder also needed.

Grayson has said Paynter isn;t going anywhere because he is part of his plans.

Maybe we have a Forssell/Paynter stike force to look forward to with Mccormack, Keogh, Becchhio and Nunez on the bench (Somma might as well just look for another club now).

Either that or we're going to play 4-1-6.

Grayson is more a 6-1-4 man.

Well 6-5-0 was how we finished against Bradford.

The only surprise is that we signed him now.

30!!! Since when have we signed journeymen aged 30?!!!

Far too young, now if we'd snapped him up in 6 or 7 years time that would have made more sense and in keeping with our transfer policy.