By TheSaddlersFC Team
February 7 2004

Rumour -United whiz kid Richardson
Date: Feb 6th
Source: Forums
Rating 3/5
We say: This one has appeared on two differant forums. A Walsall and Man Utd one. No smoke without fire. No news agencys have mentioned it as of yet.


Rumour - NI International Mark Williams
Date: Jan 04
Source: Sky Sports
Rating 4/5
We say: Sky don't tend to report on us unless its happening. The NI International is looking for a club. We want a defender.
Outcome - Williams signed for Wimbledon on Feb 6th.

Rumour - Boulding target
Date: Jan 04
Source: Rivals Network
Rating 2/5
We say: Boulding has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave for 45k. We are unlikley to pay a fee for a player.


Rumour - Zigor derby bid
Date: Jan 04
Source: TSFC Source
Rating 3/5
We say: Derby reported to have bid 50k. We rejected it, so Derby went and signed Jamie Vincent instead


Rumour - Lee talking to Charlton regarding Lisbie loan.
Date: 09/09/03
Source: WalsallYCasual
Rating 5/5
We say: Highly rated, not just because of WalsallYCasual's record in the past, but also because we would be very suprised if Lee hadn't made an enquiry for the out of favour Charlton striker. He is away with his national team at the moment and Charlton would prefer a permanant deal, but a loan is on the cards until the transfer window opens for the Premiership.

Rumour - Lee chasing a loan deal for Darren Huckerby
Date: 22/08/03
Source: Steve-o (the man who broke the Paul Ritchie signing)
Rating: 4/5
We say: Colin Lee made one attempt to loan the speedy, if wayward, striker last season, so the attempt is very likely. In view of his wages and the amount his club would have to still pay him, the liklihood of sucess is probably low, though!

Rumour - Proudlock to sign shortly
Date: 11/08/03
Source: TSFC
Rating: 4/5
We say: Providing there are no hiccups on personal terms Proudlock will soon be a Saddler
Outcome: Pending - E&S report deal has broken down and he may sign for Swindon

Rumour - Merson deal
Date: 8/07/03
Source: General Media
Rating: 5/5
We say: Everywhere is carrying this story. Will other clubs be alerted now?
Outcome: Confirmed


Rumour - Michael Stewart deal
Date: 1/07/03
Source: TSFC
Rating: 4/5
We say: Our reliable source says Lee wants him
Outcome: Signed for Forest

Rumour - Hotel announcement due?
Date: 23/06/03
Source: TSFC
Rating: 2/5
We say: The club are saying a big announcement is due, could it be the news of a Hotel at the Bescot? it has been mentioned before.
Outcome: It was a deal with Man Utd.

Rumour - Lee Briscoe
Date - 17/6/03
Source - Evening Mail
Rating - 3/5
We say - Maybe, maybe not, tough to call. Lots of players looking for clubs at the moment
Outcome- Pending

Rumour - Steven Hunt from Brentford
Date - 06/03
Source - Evening Mail
Ratomg - 4/5
We Say - Saddlers along with Brighton and other clubs are chasing the 22 year old winger
Outcome - Pending

Rumour - Dean Widnass
Date - 15/6/03
Source - TheSaddlersFC
Rating 1/5
We Say - Lee has tried to get him to Bescot before, but a bigger club will sureley snap him up
Outcome - Has returned to Bradford

Rumour - Des Lyttle on a free
Date: 06/06/03
Source: TSFC
Rating: 3/5
We say: Lee has shown an interest before. Will he go for it again?
Outcome: Pending

Rumour - Adi Akinbiyi to Bescot
Date: 05/06/03
Source: E&S
Rating: 4/5
We say: E&S seemed sure the agent had been talking with Lee. Finance would be the stumbling block
Outcome: Pending

Rumour - Double Wolves swoop?
Date: 02/06/03
Source: TSFC
Rating: 3/5
We say: Pollet and Branch are players Lee has been after before. Both are now up grabs
Outcome: Pending

Rumour - Wrack to Hull City in the Summer.
Date: 01/05/03
Source: Hull fan on rival site
Rating: 4/5
We say: Rumours have been rife for a while about Wrack having problems at the club and being released at the end of his contract. Hull City would be an obvious move for him. This could be very likely.
Outcome: Wrack signed a new contract.

Rumour: Prolific Wrexham Striker Andy Morrell is about to sign.
Date 28/04/03
Source: A rival site
Rating: 2/5
We say: Someone swears they have seen proof that Wrexham's prolific striker Andy Morell is about to sign, "within the next few days". Seems unlikely at the moment, although he is out of contract in the Summer, as Lee is still looking at the budget.
Outcome: This one turned out to prank message board gossip.


Rumour: Agreement has been reached with a Villa midfielder
Date: 25/04/03
Source: Rivals message board
Rating: 2/5
We say: The rumour is that we have agreed to sign a Villa midfielder on a free in June. The player isn't named, but the hint is, it's a midfielder and a Midlander. The assumption must be that it is Ian Taylor or Steve Cooke. Although Graham Taylor doesn't seem to want Ian, this one sounds like putting 2 and 2 together to make 5. Watch this space.
Outcome: Pending

Rumour: Colin Lee is interested in Stoke City's former Coventry full back Marcus Hall.
Date: 11/04/03
Source: Rivals message board
Rating: 4/5
We say: Although I don't take much notice of message board gossip, this one does make sense, especially if Stoke go down. The lack of cover for Zigor has always been a worry - Stoke do consider him to be one of their better defenders !
Outcome: Pending

Rumour: Gary Birch was due to complete a permenent move to Kiddy Harriers, but Lee blocked it due to selection problems.
Date: 12/03/03
Source: THESADDLERSFC
Rating: 5/5
We say: this is from a club insiders, and Birchy will definatly leave in the Summer.
Outcome: Their was no move for Gary in the end, but it was confirmed he was close to moving.


Rumour: Francis Grandpa Doe, the "next George Weah" has done enough to earn a contract.
Date: 21/02/03
Source: No good journalist (or even me) would reveal this one!
Rating: 5/5
We say: A very reliable source suggests that Doe has done enough in the last two weeks and that we have made an offer. The source suggests that this is high enough to suggest that the impression was a very good one indeed!
Outcome: The club have announced he will be returning to us in the pre season, but have not said if we are making an offer.

Rumour: Colin Lee's mysterious flight on Wednesday was to take in the Northern Ireland v Finland game.
Date: 14/02/03
Source: UTS Message Board
Rating: 4/5
We say: It was always one of the more likely games, considering how quickly he was out and back. There is no indication as to who he was watching, though.
Outcome: Lee showed an Interest in an Irish League Striker...

Rumour: Former Man Utd Trainee Kris Taylor has signed until the end of the season
Date: 07/02/03
Source: Ian Hemmings & 7inchyouknow who
Rating: 5/5
We say: Sources close to Taylor, who has been on trial have passed on this information to us.
Final Outcome: Pending
Outcome: The club announced the news a week later...

Rumour: Mark Draper is joining the Saddlers on loan from Southampton.
Date: 05/02/03
Source: TSFC Message Board
Rating: 3/5
We say: We never rely too much on message board gossip, but on 6/02/03 it has been revealed that Drapers contract is being paid up by the Saints...so an element of truth maybe.
Outcome: 3 weeks on no firm news, seems this one was just idle gossip.

Rumour: Team Talk are suggesting that Darren Huckerby will be leaving Maine Road on loan this week. Nottingham Forest, Coventry and Leicester are supposed to be interested, as well as us.
Date: 03/02/03
Source: TeamTalk
Rating: 4/5
We say: It is likely he will be moving, following the signing of Fowler. It's a matter of where he would want to go. Leicester can't sign him while they are in Administration.
Final Outcome: Huckerby signed for the Forest, but Lee admitted trying to get him.

Rumour: Albion Midfielder Lee Marshall is discussing a loan move to the Bescot till the end of the season
Date: 28/1/03
Source: Saddlersnet.com Message Board
Rating: 2/5
We Say: Possibly idle gossip, but Albion fans report that Megson has told him he'll never play for the Baggies again, following a row when he was late for training. (He called up 19 players last night before choosing the final 16 and Marshall was not included). If that is the case, he badly needs to get his career back on track.
Final Outcome: It seems Marshall is unlikley to leave the Albion, just Msg board talk.

Rumour: Colin Lee is renewing his interest Bradford utility man Jamie Lawrence.
Date: 28/1/03
Source: Ananova
Rating: 4/5
We Say: Very likely to be true giving that the Ainsworth deal is dead.
Final Outcome: Lee has been in for the wide man a few times, but £ is always the stumbling block.

Rumour: The Club is in discussions to see the pitch relaid.
Date: 13/1/03
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 5/5
We Say: This is information has come from two different reliable sources, expect to see this one develop.
Final Outcome: The club ripped the pitch up after the FA CUP 4th round game, and it was relaid at a cost 100k.


Rumour: Gino Padula was at the Reading game, after failing to capture Des Lyttle, the rumour is Gino could be on his way back
Date: 10/1/03
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 2/5
Final Outcome: Maybe he was just watching the game…nothing has happened.


Rumour: Colin Lee failed in a bid to sign Des Lyttle on loan from WBA.
Date: 6/1/03
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 5/5
Final Outcome: A solid informant at the Hawthorns passed on this information, while the club confirmed that they had been trailing a “Premiership Player”.


Rumour: Juan Sara is looking for a first division club, he fits Colin Lee’s bill…
Date: January 2003
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 2/5
Final Outcome: Sara went to Coventry City


Rumour: Barras and Birch out on loan next week
Date: 15/11/02
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 4/5
Final Outcome: Tony Barass left the following week on loan to Plymouth Argyle


Rumour: Gadsby in discussions with Mansfield over a loan move
Date: 8/11/02
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 5/5
Final Outcome: Matt did leave the Saddlers, but on a permanent basis.


Rumour: Gary Birch is unsettled, and is after a move from the Bescot.
Date: 8/11/02
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 3/5
Final Outcome: No move for Gary, but no way of telling he is unsettled either.


Rumour: Season ticket holders will be allowed to transfer to the upper tier free of charge on November 8th,.
Date: 11/11/02
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 5/5
Final Outcome: The club confirmed this rumour one week later, along with extra dates.


Rumour: The new stand is going to be sponsored by a company with strong regional/local links; we say it’s the Holiday Hypermarket.
Date: 2/10/02
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 3/5
Final Outcome: It was Purple Loans, local/regional links confirmed.


Rumour: Fitzroy Simpson has attracted interest from Bradford City.
Date: 2/10/02
Source: TheSaddlersFC
Rating: 5/5
Final Outcome: The only confirmation we got was that it was another first division club, but our source is rock solid, and we can assure you it was City.