By Neil Ravenscroft
January 2 2003

Despite the excellent away point yesterday and the away rot stopped, perhaps the best news for the club may have come from, of all places, Villa Park. By Colin Lee's own admission, one of the crucial factors in his rescue act last season came with the injection of cash from our FA Cup run. Of course, that avenue is still open to us this season, given a win at home against Reading, but there is another potential source of revenue which may be opening up for him.

The hot rumour circulating at Villa Park yesterday was that former Walsall striker and lazy so and so Michael Ricketts will be on his way out of Bolton within a week. According to WM, it was the Bolton reporters in the Press Box who were circulating this, and, given Ricketts' rows with Allardyce, it may well be true.
There were persistent rumours early last year that Tottenham were looking at an £8 million bid for the player, but, with the collapse of the transfer market, it is unlikely he would command such a fee now.

There was a sell on clause in the contract when he left for Bolton and, according to Roy Whalley on WM last season, this is in the region of 30%. I can't see him leaving for less than £3 million, even with the current state of affairs, so it may be that Coiln Lee could be looking at a potential £1 million extra in the club's coffers.

The next question, given that this may be happening, is will the club let him use it?