January
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

Aston Villa allowed him to leave Villa Park on a free transfer but put a 50% sell on clause on the player. They will stand to benefit from a big money signing as well.

Its understood that Shrewsbury were interested in Kurt Nogan last week but City would not allow him to leave.

The Carlton Palmer rumours were well reported over last weekend but there were also some mention again of Ryan Greene from Wolves. No official word on any of these stories but the Hughes link and the Palmer link have been well documented.

Report on Huhes from the shropshirestar.com
Promotion-chasing Cardiff City could be closing in on Shrewsbury Town defender Dave Hughes.   Sources close to the Welsh club have suggested that they are ready to pounce for the towering centre back. Shrewsbury manager Kevin Ratcliffe denied the club had received a bid from Cardiff but admitted interest was growing in the former Aston Villa player.

Ratcliffe said: "He's playing out if his skin at the moment and done excellent for Shrewsbury so I am not surprised if people are looking at him. I must admit I have had calls about Dave but no bids for him.  I wouldn't be surprised if one or two others were not being looked at either given the way certain individuals are playing.  But the reason we are doing so well has a lot to do with Dave Hughes. He has been a rock and I have been pleased with his performances."

Ratcliffe would not say how much he would expect for the Wrexham-born player but echoed his comments from last week.

He said: "Everyone has got a price and if the price is right who knows? It depends who comes in for him. I don't like putting figures on it."

Athough Ratcliffe would not talk figures, it is likely Town would
want a package approaching £500,000 for highly rated Hughes.

The Welsh club, owned by the charismatic Sam Hamman, are not afraid to spend having recently splashed out £500,000 on Lincoln City striker Gavin Gordon.  Hughes was brought to the club by previous manager Jake King from Aston Villa on a free transfer.

But the Premiership giants realised the central defender's potential by stipulating a 50 per cent sell-on clause in his contract. But any cash coming in would help balance the club's books with Shrewsbury set to announce losses of more than £220,000 for the financial year ending May 31, 2000, at next Monday's AGM.

It would also help Ratcliffe in his search for a striker by giving
him funds to go out and buy after Cardiff's Kurt Nogan was ruled out. Whatever the outcome, the departure of the Welsh B international would be a huge blow in playing terms, with the defender the club's most consistent performer and with recent signing Matt Redmile still shaking off a hamstring twinge which ruled him out of the draw with Hartlepool.