Late again, this time with Lucas Neill story

If you’re reading this way in the future, August 19th was the opening day of the 2006-07 league season, when Oldham was going to close Koptalk down if no investment had been received. Liverpool kicked off at 12:50pm, their game had been finished almost an hour at 3.32pm.

So why was Koptalk still open? That’s another story for another time. This was what they were writing at 3.32pm on Saturday 19th.

Koptalk, August 19th, 3:32pm

EXCLUSIVE: Agent heading to Merseyside to try and broker deal

KOPTALK understands that Peter Harrison – the agent that represents Blackburn Rovers defender Lucas Neill – is heading to Merseyside in the hope of securing his client a move to Anfield.

The 28-year-old Australian international is out of contract in the summer of 2007 and so far he’s rejected the new offers put to him by his present employers.

Neill’s agent Peter Harrison is expected to attend the Portsmouth-Rovers game today. Afterwards he will hold a mini-conference with his client to discuss their options, one of which could be a move to Anfield.

The player can negotiate a pre-contract with another club in January. He could then leave Ewood Park on a free at the end of the season. However, Rovers may opt to cash in now or in January rather than letting him go for nothing.

For anyone who only reads Koptalk, this would be the first time they’d heard a link between the player who might actually be quite unpopular at Anfield (ask Carra!) and the club who play at Anfield. (Personally I can see good and bad in the deal, but you don’t want to hear what I think!) Anyway, two days before the Koptalk article there was this post on YNWA.

YNWA.tv, August 17th, 6:14pm
http://www.ynwa.tv/forum/index.php?showtopic=114461
SteMano      post Aug 17 2006, 18:14
Group: Members
Posts: 211
Joined: 18-December 03
Member No.: 2,718

Just heard this from our kid. Was speaking with Carra’s brother ‘Bonk’.

QUOTE(SteMano @ Aug 17 2006, 18:10) *

Just heard this from our kid. Was speaking with Carra’s brother ‘Bonk’.

Mods – please delete as its already in another thread.
——————–

(see also http://www.ynwa.tv/forum/index.php?showtopic=114455)

Also two days before the Koptalk article was this on TLW.

The Liverpool Way, August 17th, 8:37pm
http://forum.liverpoolway.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36099&page=2
17th August 2006, 08:37 PM
dave u    editor
Red Beast
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: L9
Posts: 8,327
Re: Another signing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by snez1
I wish. Most people there thinkit’s Lucas f______g Neil.

They’d be right. But if they’re saying he’s defo coming then they’re jumping the gun quite a bit. I hear something could happen with him, but only if we manage to sell Kromkamp first.

This is a bit of a sensitive one, and sometimes it’s better if these stories don’t get out as it could fuck up any potential deal.

It’s also mentioned on TLW here (early hours of this morning), where Dave U says, “Old news mate. There was a thread about this the other day. It’s true as well, if we can sell Kromkamp, Neill is being lined up as a replacement. Apparently he can buy out his contract or something, so he’d be a free.”

I also found it mentioned here before Koptalk -

EST1892 (Aug 18th, 7:23am)

EST1892 (Aug 17th, 6:49am)

Also on the EST1892 site is a clue to perhaps how Oldham finally heard about this story. “ningnangnong” knew about it and had posted about it before Oldham, someone called “Robbie Slater” getting the credit.

EST1892 (Aug 19th, 3:04pm)
ningnangnong
I’m New
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 30

Lucas Neill
Is very close to signing with us according to Robbie Slater.

He’s definately in the know, has links everywhere in world football.

Aussies will know what i mean by that last sentence.

Another site refers to it well before Oldham: RAWK (August 18th, 12.36am)

An insight into the mind of Oldham – once you’ve heard about the link, why not find out who Lucas Neill’s agent is to build a story from? Google it. (http://www.google.com/search?q=lucas+neill+agent)

At that point you can make your story up. If you are being really devious though, once you’ve got his agent’s name, consult the freely available list of agents (like I just did), where you can find this -

HARRISON Peter
M.P.H. Soccer Management Ltd.
……………
Norwood Road
GATESHEAD
NE11 9NE
ENG
Email: info@……….
Tel: +44-191/460 nnnn
Fax: +44-191/460 nnnn
Mobile: +44-771/384 nn nn

So, one local call later, you’ve got a story. Or a bit to add to a story that’s actually two days old.
One more thing – isn’t exclusive news supposed to be kept on the Insider site, for the benefit of those who’ve paid for it?