NEWCASTLE boss Glenn Roeder has won the race to sign
Reading's contract rebel Steve Sidwell. Sidwell, 24, will be left
out of Reading's line-up to face Fulham today as manager Steve
Coppell is resigned to him going to St James' Park this
summer.
Former Arsenal trainee Sidwell, a free agent this summer, turned
down a final £25,000-a-week contract offer to stay at Reading. That
alerted several big clubs including Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea
and Everton, to the player who has impressed in his first season in
the Premiership. But Sidwell favours a move to Newcastle because he
believes he will get the best first-team opportunity in the
North-East.
Sidwell has already held unofficial talks with Newcastle and the
club have outlined their plans for the future, leaving him
impressed and ready to sign. Roeder and his Newcastle chairman
Freddy Shepherd sold the idea to Sidwell and he has told friends he
is on his way to join the Toon Army.
Coppell is well aware of Sidwell's intentions to go to the
North-East and is now planning for the future, which is why he will
leave him out for the rest of the season. Sidwell spoke with
Coppell yesterday and the pair remain on good terms. But they will
go their different ways this summer as Sidwell gets his
move.