PLATT'S OUT OF THE BAG

25-11-2006

An Aston Villa and England star has made a shock confession about a shady transfer.

Footballers doing back-door deals? Transfers being arranged without the selling club's approval. They might sound like stories from today's back pages, but former Villa and England star David Platt has admitted it all took place years ago - and that he was guilty of it as far back as 1990.

Platt's revelation comes in a piece he wrote for a brochure accompanying Doug Ellis's retirement dinner on Thursday night at Villa Park. The “do” was attended by all manner of claret and blue luminaries ranging from Ron Atkinson to Charlie Aitken to Jasper Carrott (shome mishtake surely).

This is what Platt wrote, recalling his transfer away from the club to the Italian side Bari who'd been impressed by his World Cup heroics at Italia 90.

“At this time of tributes to my former chairman, I would like to make a confession.

“After scoring in the World Cup 3rd place Final against Italy in Bari, I knew they were interested in me - because Gordon Cowans had told me so.

“Events progressed and, finally, I had a call to go round to the Chairman's house in Four Oaks one Sunday, apparently to meet the Bari officials. However, upon arrival I discovered they were in one room and the Chairman, Mr Venglos (the then manager) and I were in another discussing the possible terms for me leaving.

“It was only when I had finally signed a ‘Note of Agreement' that I was allowed to meet the Bari Managing Director for the first time. His first words to me were ‘David, you are taller than you seem on television.' I smiled quietly to myself, as we had enjoyed a lengthy dinner together the previous evening.