Source: Northern_Echo
Boro boss keen to keep St Ledger
GORDON Strachan has dismissed suggestions of a bustup with defender Sean St Ledger, and insisted the Irishman will be signing a permanent contract at the Riverside next month.[LNB] Reports emanating from the north-west had suggested that Strachan had clashed with St Ledger, and examined the possibility of sending him back to Preston now that his initial loan deal from the Lilywhites has expired.[LNB] That is impossible anyway as Boro have already paid the first installment of a fee that could eventually rise as high as £4.5m, but Strachan insists he has not fallen out with a player who will be ineligible for the Teessiders' next three matches as he waits to sign a full-time deal.[LNB] The terms of the agreement state that he stays here,[LNB] said the Boro boss. I like Sean, he's a good lad. He's good to work with, and pleasant company.[LNB] As a matter of fact, me and my wife had dinner with him about ten days ago. It was a nice romantic dinner for three. It was good fun.[LNB] I don't think I would be having a meal with him, and laughing and joking, if we didn't get on.[LNB] Somebody has mentioned a bust-up, but I think a bustup has to involve raised voices or something like that. I don't think I've ever raised my voice to Sean since I've been at the club.[LNB] As well as insisting that St Ledger would be remaining at the Riverside, Strachan also spelled out his desire to retain the services of Adam Johnson next month.[LNB] Johnson will be free to leave for a minimal compensatory fee when his contract expires in June, and Sunderland, Everton and Chelsea have all been linked with a January move for the left winger.[LNB] Boro chairman Steve Gibson has hinted that any approach will be rebuffed next month, and Strachan spoke to Johnson last week to outline his own position.[LNB] Adam knows what I think, because we had a long chat together the other day, which was good, he said. I don't need to relate that to the wider world, I just know that I'm a huge fan of Adam, both as a player and a person.[LNB] I can't help what's written about Adam, but we're trying our best to keep him at the club.[LNB] Strachan is also lining up potential signings of his own, and one of his leading targets, Celtic full-back Mark Wilson, last night confirmed a desire to leave Parkhead.[LNB] Boro are ready to make a formal move for the 25-yearold, who has accepted that his Celtic career is at an end.[LNB] I love the club and would like to stay for years, said Wilson. But I'm not playing and it looks like I'll have to look elsewhere.[LNB] I'm 25 now, and at the stage of my career where I want to be playing.[LNB] I've missed a lot of games through injury and, now I'm fit, it's frustrating to find myself frozen out of the team.[LNB] And because of the Under- 21 rule, I'm not even getting on the bench, so on a match day I'm in the house and that's not really where I want to be.[LNB] While Wilson will be available next month, another of Strachan's transfer targets, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, is unlikely to be.[LNB] Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has hinted that the highlyrated midfielder will join Burnley on loan for the second half of the season.[LNB]
