Source: Telegraph
Spurs didn't interest Kenwyne Jones insists Sunderland manager
The war of words between Sunderland and Tottenham continued on Tuesday night when Stadium of Light manager Ricky Sbragia declared that Kenwyne Jones was 'never interested' in a move to White Hart Lane.[LNB]Sbragia spoke out after Jones showed why Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was so desperate to lure him to London with a match-winning performance that came at the end of a day when he was persuaded to commit himself to Sunderland on a long-term basis.[LNB]Relations between the two clubs have been tested by the tug-of-war over Jones, but according to Sbragia his charge never seriously contemplated moving.[LNB]'He has never said he wanted to leave Sunderland,' Sbragia said. 'We know we need him because he's an important member of the team but he has a lot to learn and he appreciates that.[LNB]'A lot of players would want to talk to a club that was interested in him but credit to Kenwyne, he was never interested. There was a lot of pressure on the club and the player but he never ever indicated that he wanted to speak to Spurs.' [LNB]Earlier, following what Sbragia described as a 'disastrous' first half, Jones marked the signing of a bumper new deal with a potentially priceless winner.[LNB]The ink was barely dry on his new 4½-year contract when Jones was flamboyantly celebrating with his trademark somersaults.[LNB]His acrobatics followed a second-half goal which showed exactly why Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn was so determined to fend off Tottenham's £15 million advances for their talismanic Trinidadian.[LNB]Jones put Sunderland on course in the 55th minute by slamming the ball past Mark Schwarzer, reacting quicker than anyone else after Djibril Cisse's shot had been pushed out by the Fulham goalkeeper.[LNB]It was Jones's eighth goal of an injury-blighted season and it gave Sbragia his first Premier League win since he was given an 18-month contract earlier this month.[LNB]The game hotted up after Jones's intervention and Simon Davies wasted an excellent opportunity to equalise when he cleared the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.[LNB]Fulham's manager, Roy Hodgson, said he was not too worried about his side's away form.[LNB]'It's a concern,' Hodgson said. 'But it took us a long while to win one last season and then we won three of our last four away games.'[LNB]Victory put clear water between Sunderland and the bottom three and ensured that Jones and his team-mates will be in buoyant mood when they cross the Tyne on Sunday to face Newcastle.[LNB]
