By Neil Ravenscroft
February 3 2003

The Express and Star are reporting some good, some bad news today, as Roper's injury situation becomes clearer, as does the sell on clause. Meanwhile, Huckerby is rumoured to be moving. The article in the Star has givent he first news of Roper's injury, as it says that he "could be out for several weeks due to a groin injury". Let's hope that is just pessimism.

On the Ricketts front, they say "Walsall have been rescued from their first financial deficit for 12 years, thanks to their FA Cup exploits and Michael Ricketts' transfer to Middlesbrough.
Saddlers' windfall from Ricketts' move from Bolton to Teesside is reported to be up to £700,000".

While the club are still not saying what the percentage was, "sources in Lancashire suggest that the agreed figure was 20 per cent of any fee and, with Ricketts reported to have moved for £3.5m, Saddlers could be due twice the amount they received for the player in the first place".

"Manager Colin Lee refused to be drawn on how much cash, if any, he would be allowed to improve the playing squad, but was delighted the club would not end the season in debt. We were staring a deficit in the face and, thanks to the Cup run and the Ricketts transfer, that is one job done."

"The Ricketts deal only happened on Friday, but we are due quite a big percentage from the fee. It will be quite a few hundred thousand."

Meanwhile, as reported in the "Rumours" column, Team Talk are predicting the departure of Darren Huckerby from Manchester City this week.

Although Leicester are interested, they are still in administration and cannot sign anyone, Walsall have made an enquiry (reported in the Star on Friday) and it is rumoured that Coventry, trying to reach the play offs with a team of other club's players, and Nottingham Forest, with £2.5 million just having arrived from the sale of Prutton, are also interested. Huckerby still lives in the Midlands.