Latest Transfer Update at 16-03-2012

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Stephen Henderson: Loan switch

HAMMERS LAND HENDERSON ON LOAN

West Ham have completed the loan signing of goalkeeper Stephen Henderson from Portsmouth.
Sam Allardyce has snapped up the 23-year-old Irishman until the end of the season with a view to a permanent switch in the summer.
Henderson will initially provide cover for Hammers number one Robert Green, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
"I'm sad to leave Portsmouth but very happy to join a successful club in West Ham," he told the Hammers' official website.


"I'm aware I might have to wait for my chance because Rob Green is one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship. I will just come here, work hard and hopefully be ready when I'm given my chance."
Henderson is the fourth player to leave Pompey after they slid into administration last month, with top scorer Erik Huseklepp joining Birmingham, captain Liam Lawrence moving to Cardiff and fellow midfielder Hayden Mullins signing for Reading.

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Roberto Di Matteo: Not losing his cool

DI MATTEO RELAXED ABOUT PLAYER POWER

Roberto Di Matteo insists he has no problem with John Terry or any other Chelsea player barking orders from the bench.
Accusations of player power at Stamford Bridge emerged again on Wednesday night when Blues captain Terry was pictured urging Michael Essien to drop back into defence during the club's thrilling Champions League triumph over Napoli.
That came just 24 hours after Terry had branded claims he and other senior stars ran the dressing room as "complete nonsense".
But rather than blow a fuse when quizzed about the matter - as sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas might have done - caretaker boss Di Matteo could not have been more relaxed about the prospect of his players having some input from the touchline.
"I've had a long playing career myself at the highest level," the former Chelsea midfielder and West Brom boss said.
"I've been coaching for some years now as well and I expect everybody to be involved and everybody to help each other on the pitch and the ones that are on the bench, and that's what I believe in."


Di Matteo drew the line at inviting Terry into his inner sanctum, despite the defender's desire to manage Chelsea when he hangs up his boots.
"I think he's still too young for that," Di Matteo said.
"I can help him with his coaching badges maybe first!
"But he's got so many years ahead of him playing and I would always recommend to any players to play as long as they can, because that's the best part of a footballing career."
Asked if Terry was a potential manager, Di Matteo added: "I don't know because, when I was playing, I watched around myself and it's really difficult to see who is actually going to become one or not.
"It depends how life goes and what events happen in your life."


The Italian's attitude to Terry's input highlights what appears to be a less dictatorial approach all round than that under Villas-Boas, whose fractious relationship with some his players was one of the factors in his downfall.
Di Matteo's remarkable rescue act, which has inspired a hat-trick of wins, has also seen more comparisons drawn between what is happening now and what occurred when Guus Hiddink was parachuted in to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2009.
Villas-Boas' sacking prompted Scolari to declare "hell" awaited the Portuguese's successor, but asked to sum up managing Chelsea after almost a fortnight in charge, Di Matteo said: "Interesting, exciting, fantastic so far."
Eddie Newton, who Di Matteo appointed to his coaching team when Villas-Boas left, admitted on Wednesday he would find it impossible to turn down an invitation to stay on beyond the end of the season.
Di Matteo once again refused to be drawn on his own desire to succeed Villas-Boas full-time and also declined to comment on whether he and the Portuguese were still in touch.
"That's my private life, which I don't want to really talk about," he said.
Chelsea's win over Napoli was not all positive, with the club now facing the prospect of a serious fixture pile-up.


That will worsen if they are taken to a replay in their FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester, who they host on Sunday.
It could mean a run of five games in 12 days and nine in 23.

Di Matteo said: "It's going to be difficult. As it is, it's very congested already."
He added: "Luckily, we have everybody fit, the whole squad, and we will need everybody.
"It's difficult for some games to leave certain players out but we have such an intense schedule that it's great to be in a position like this."
Di Matteo would not be drawn on how many changes he would make on Sunday but it could be nine or 10.
He said: "We obviously have to take into consideration that we played extra-time on Wednesday.
"We'll try to put out the strongest team that we have available on Sunday to win the game."

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Kerim Frei: Staying at Fulham

FREI AT HOME WITH COTTAGERS

Fulham teenager Kerim Frei has penned an extended deal that will keep him at the club until 2015.
The 18-year-old winger has progressed through the Cottagers' academy to become an increasingly important part of the first team this season.
Frei has made 16 appearances in all competitions for the Whites and has now committed his future to the club until the summer of 2015, with the option to extend the deal by a further year.
Manager Martin Jol handed the Switzerland Under-21 international his first-team debut in the Europa League last July and is pleased to have sorted out a deal.


"I am delighted that Kerim has committed his future to Fulham," the Dutchman told the club's official website.
"Coming here as a youngster and progressing through the ranks is a great achievement.
"He listens and works hard on the training pitch and his improvement since I started has been very impressive, so much so that I now consider him very much part of the first team squad.
"As long as he continues to progress and work hard, he has a very bright future ahead of him."

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George Thorne: Stays at Portsmouth

THORNE IN PORTSMOUTH'S SIDE

Portsmouth have extended George Thorne's loan deal from West Brom for an additional month.
The 19-year old has made nine appearances for Pompey in two different spells at the club this season.
The midfielder has signed the extension in time to face Bristol City at Fratton Park on Saturday.

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Robert Hall during his loan spell at Oxford.

HALL JOINS DONS ON LOAN

West Ham striker Robert Hall has completed a loan move to MK Dons until the end of the season.
The 18-year-old has already spent a spell on loan this term at League Two Oxford, where he scored six goals in 14 outings.
Hall, an England Under-19 international, will wear the number 46 shirt and is set to be included in the squad for the Dons' trip to Chesterfield.
Another young Hammer, 20-year-old forward Christian Montano, has joined Oxford for a month.

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Jim McIntyre: Sacked by Dunfermline

JIM McINTYRE SACKED BY DUNFERMLINE

Dunfermline have sacked manager Jim McIntyre as they look to retain their Clydesdale Bank Premier League status.
McIntyre led the Pars to the Irn-Bru First Division title in his third full season in charge but he has paid the price for the team's failure to win a home game all season.
Dunfermline have only recorded two victories since August to leave them four points adrift of Hibernian at the foot of the SPL.
The club confirmed the move in a brief statement on their website around 7pm on Friday night.
"It is with great regret that the board of directors at Dunfermline Athletic Football Club have agreed to terminate the contract of Jim McIntyre with immediate effect," the statement read.


"All at DAFC wish Jim the very best in the future and would like to thank him for his past contributions, both as a player and a manager."
McIntyre took over as manager in December 2007, initially on an interim basis following the departure of Stephen Kenny, and led the Pars to the Irn-Bru First Division title last season despite ongoing cutbacks.
Dunfermline do not have a game this weekend because of the Scottish Communities League Cup final - their match with Celtic was brought forward to last month.
They face St Mirren and Hearts at home and Dundee United away before the league splits in two for the final five fixtures.
Former Kilmarnock and Hearts manager Jim Jefferies has already been linked with the post.
Chairman John Yorkston admitted the decision was made reluctantly.
"He was a lovely guy and I am really sorry that we had to do it," Yorkston told the club's official website.
"The board have decided that it is in the best interests of the club.


"It was really because of our league position and the home record.
"We made the decision at a board meeting on Tuesday night, there were 10 directors present but we decided to reflect on our decision until today.
"We felt that it was right to take action now while there was still a chance for someone to come in and freshen things up.
"We do not have a bad squad, injuries have not helped. We have certainly been the equal of many of our opponents this season but we just didn't get the breaks."
Yorkston revealed there had already been several expressions of interest but no one has been lined up and assistant manager Gerry McCabe will take training on Monday.
"We will look at folk who might be available instantly but contractual obligations may mean that we go for a short-term option if the long-term option is not immediately available," he said.


"The short-term solution might become the long-term one and it will be up to whoever comes in to decide whether they want to retain Gerry's services.
"We will weigh up the options, have a chat over them when we know who is interested."
McIntyre's situation has not been helped by a long-term shoulder injury to first-choice goalkeeper Paul Gallacher suffered in December and both Chris Smith and Iain Turner have made blunders since coming in.
The club revealed Turner had now left East End Park after suffering an injury in training. The former Preston keeper had been bidding to come back from a back problem.