Source: FOOTYMAD
Coventry City make move for King
Boothroyd to make an offer to controversial striker. Coventry City manager is set to make a controversial move to sign striker Marlon King. King was released from prison last month after serving nine months of an 18 month sentence for sexual assault. King has vowed to clear his name saying the assault was never a sexual one. King and his family were guests of Boothroyd at the home game against Derby last Saturday, a move designed to show King what Coventry City FC is all about. Boothroyd is under no illusions about the controversy surrounding the possible signing of King and the numerous polls and surveys taken show City fans are divided in their opinions. A recent poll on this site concluded a 61% to 39%% against signing him, while on other sites the result was nearer 50-50. Boothroyd said, “I totally understand where people are coming from, but all I would say is give him the opportunity, give him some time. I don’t think anybody is going to say that Marlon is the perfect person, but I’ve never met a perfect person, I know I’m certainly not." “I’d also say that Marlon has an appeal, he’s got a point to prove, he wants to clear his name. He can get on with that, and that’s fine. What I’m interested in is Marlon King the player and, if we can manage to secure his services, I think he would be a coup for the club and a positive move." “He came to the game with his family because it was an opportunity to have a little look at who we are and what we do. I got him the tickets so if we do manage to sign him I’ll be expecting him to pay me back out of his wages!” If King was offered a contract by Coventry City he would have to agree to to a deal withing the wages policy of the club. He would certainly get better financial offers from other clubs, but City will not over spend on wages for any player. Bothroyd confirmed, “If his wages are enormous he won’t be coming, because nobody is on enormous wages here. I know that sometimes papers get sold because they say players are on 30, 40, £50,000, but that’s not us." "We’re a club that is building, and we’re not going to do that by splashing out loads of money, not that the chairman would have it anyway. I’ve got a budget to keep to and we will need to shift one or two out, whether by sale or loan, to make some room." "We’re not a club that can afford to have lots of players on the books and I don’t want lots of players either because professional footballers want to play. I know Marlon is talking to other people, that’s going to happen with a player who scores 23 goals in the Championship, but we’ve got a bit of time with him and to see where that goes." “All I can say is that he is a huge talent, wasn’t a minute’s problem for me. I loved working with him and I see this as an opportunity for us."
