Everton deny Stubbs claims

EVERTON have rejected claims from former captain Alan Stubbs that he left because a clause in his new deal related to the cancer he overcame four years ago.

EvertonThe club said Stubbs, 33, joined Sunderland because he wanted a two-year contract rather than the one-year deal the Toffees offered.

Everton spokesman Ian Ross said: “When Alan joined us from Glasgow Celtic in the summer of 2001 he was in remission after recovering from testicular cancer. A clause was inserted in Alan’s contract with Everton relating to the fact that he had previously suffered from a form of cancer.

“In October of last year, Alan, through his management company, was made the offer of a 12-month extension to his contract. Although that contractual offer did still contain what is known as a ‘special notice condition’ relating to his previous medical condition, Alan asked that, as he had been in remission for a number of years, it be removed.”

Ross said the club was happy to do so once Stubbs had been examined by a consultant but added he declined this once he insisted on a two-year deal.