Football: Sky Blues' silence on Palmer rumours
Coventry City are refusing to comment on a report that their former England midfielder Carlton Palmer has been given a free transfer for publicly criticising manager Gordon Strachan.
The Birmingham Evening Mail are claiming that the transfer-listed Palmer has left the club following comments made about Strachan to match sponsors after the 3-1 defeat by Everton last weekend.
Palmer is said to have collected a man of the match award on behalf of Moroccan Mustapha Hadji who had to fly off immediately after the game to prepare for an international.
It was then that Palmer is reported to have delivered his outburst against Strachan who had come under fire from supporters at the end of a performance he described as ''an embarrassment''.
The report claims that news of 36-year-old Palmer’s outburst was relayed to a furious Strachan and club chairman Bryan Richardson.
But a Coventry spokesperson would only say: ''we have no comment to make on the matter'' and would not confirm whether or not that Palmer’s days with the Sky Blues had come to an end.
Strachan was unavailable for comment as he prepares his relegation-threatened team for an FA Cup clash with Manchester City at Maine Road.
Palmer was already on the transfer list because he wants to move to a club nearer to his home in Sheffield.
He has recently been on loan to First Division promotion hopefuls Watford but was recalled to Coventry because Hadji and fellow Moroccan Youssef Chippo were needed by their country.
Strachan, meanwhile, is set to make wholesale changes tomorrow.
The Scot will come up against Joe Royle’s men without four of the players who featured against Everton.
Moroccans Youssef Chippo and Hadji are on African Nations Cup duty; Mo Konjic is on crutches after picking up a foot injury, and David Thompson is suspended.
That leaves Strachan with an absence of wide men, especially with former England winger Steve Froggatt on the long-term injured list.
Strachan said: ''I try and keep my cards close to my chest because we have got to make some changes. But I don’t really think I should help Joe he is a good manager and he’ll probably work it out anyway.
''Richard Spong, Laurent Delorge, Jay Bothroyd and Marcus Hall will all be coming into the fray.
''Sometimes people’s destiny in football is decided by games like this, and they realise where they want to go.''
The inclusion of Hall in the squad is a big boost to Strachan, who has been forced to use right-footed Barry Quinn in the left-back position.
More surprising is the elevation of 17-year-old Swede Spong, who caught his manager’s eye in a practice match earlier in the week.
Strachan said: ''I played with him when I was putting in my own therapy which is running about playing with the kids - and I thought he was outstanding.
''He knows what good players like to do and he battles. He is a good player and he has good mental strength.''
Belgian Delorge will be hoping he does not carry an FA Cup curse for his club.
The last time he was involved in competitive action was against Charlton Athletic in the fifth round of the competition last year.
Despite being favourites to win the clash, Coventry allowed a two-goal lead to slip with Alan Curbishley’s men running out 3-2 winners.
Whatever the result against City, Strachan wants to see his players enjoying the game.
He said: ''I like going to Maine Road. It is a good place to play, and the people there are first class.
''The fans are good and you always get a good reception no matter whether you win, lose or draw.''
