FORMER City midfielder Trevor Sinclair has signed for
-MEN.
Cardiff.The 34-year-old, who joined City in 2003, had held talks with Stoke but
has already joined up with the Bluebirds in their training camp in
Portugal.
There had been talk of Sinclair joining Stoke but opted for a move to Cardiff and will link up with former-City colleague Willo Flood, whilst there has been talk of Robbie Fowler perhaps joining the Welsh side as well.
The club announced over the past couple of days that both Trevor Sinclair and Stephen Jordan were to be released at the end of the season.
Whilst both moves were widely expected, there were stories that suggested Jordan may have been offered a new deal but perhaps Stuart Pearce felt that either Jordan's progress had stalled permanently or young Shaleum Logan was ready to assume more of a senior role behind Michael Ball next season.
What is perhaps a little interesting in this is that despite stories regarding his future at the club Pearce is already beginning to shape the squad for next season and has talked about the Chairman indicating the level of funds available.
The MEN reported yesterday that the board would have to 'act fast' in order to land Sam Allardyce, indicating that he would be prepared to take the Newcastle job (despite a preference for City).
Pearce has always been bullish regarding his role and that he would be in charge next season, despite the board keeping their cards far closer to their chests. One problem for the current board is that although there would be no compensation involved for dismissing Pearce, Allardyce (or another big name) would command a hefty, long-term contract in addition to significant funds being made available.
Whilst this may not be a problem to any new owners who come in, whilst the current board remain in charge, it could be more likely that Pearce remains in charge at the club.
Trevor Sinclair has again been re-iterating his desire to earn a new contract at the club as time runs out on his present deal.
Joining Sinclair as a pending free-agent is Hatem Trabelsi and Stephen Jordan and for me it is hard to see that either of the trio deserve to be kept on or nor do I think that the club will offer them new deals.
Sinclair has been surpassed by youngsters such as Michael Johnson and Stephen Ireland, whilst Trabelsi looked promising before his injury problems and Jihai-Sun has since come in and looked as good as Trabelsi has done in the right-hand side position. Meanwhile, Stephen Jordan has seemingly regressed both as a player and in the pecking order, first losing his place to Ben Thatcher following his return from suspension and then with the arrival of Michael Ball.
It is still unsure what the turnover of playing personnel will be this summer, but we need to take steps forward with the squad, and re-signing any of the above trio will not achieve that objective.
A quiet day on the news and transfer rumour front, with the main story dominating City news and column inches is Trevor Sinclair hoping to extend his current deal which ends in the summer.
I certainly don't see Stuart Pearce offering a new deal before the season ends (certainly if Weaver hasn't had a new deal on the table), but is he likely to be with us beyond this season? At times he has shown some decent form - particularly a spell over the first-half of last season was possibly his most impressive (and came in the wake of Wright-Phillips departure), but in the main it has been a stuttering City career as he has never managed to fully avoid injuries.
The problem Pearce faces is we have a relatively thin squad, and if players do leave they do (or should) have to be replaced so the danger if Sinclair's contract is not renewed is are we short of cover? On the flip-side is if we do offer a new deal and he continues to suffer from injuries then we are on the hook for his wages which could have been spent elsewhere (as is the case with Sun-Jihai).
I cannot see Pearce offering any more than a one-year deal to Sinclair - and would be disappointed if he did, and I also expect Sinclair to have to wait until the season end - when Pearce may have more of an idea of who he hopes to bring in for next season.
