Coventry City took their sales
of players to £16 million in eight months when they unloaded Darren Huckerby to Leeds
United for £5.5 million this afternoon.
Coventry’s chairman Bryan Richardson said:
"Leeds had been chasing him for some time and obviously it hotted up when they
sold Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink. We think £5.5 million is a good price."
City will get an initial fee from Leeds of £4 million rising to £5.5 million after a
set number of appearances.
Huckerby was Gordon Strachan’s first signing as a manager in November 1996 when he
agreed to pay Newcastle United £1 million.
He follows Dion Dublin (£5.75 million) and George Boateng (£4.5 million), both to
Aston Villa. The total income of £15.75 million represents a profit of £12 million for
Coventry.
They recently laid out a club record £4 million to buy Moustapha Hadji and £1 million
for his fellow Moroccan Youssef Chippo.
Huckerby hit the headlines for Coventry two years ago when he was selected for England
under-21 and England B and was shortlisted for the PFA Youth Player of the Year.
He was criticised by Strachan after Saturday’s match against Southampton.
"If Darren has one fault it is that he is all over the place. He did not get a
shot or a header on target. That about sums it up."
