Greg Abbott hoping Vincent Pericard will stay
Jan 6 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
GREG Abbott says talk that former Juventus striker Vincent Pericard is on the verge of quitting Carlisle United is news to him.
Pericard is in talks with the Cumbrians about extending his short-term contract. But one media outlet reported yesterday that he will reject any offer to join a rival League One club. Southampton and Charlton Athletic have been linked with the 27-year-old.
“That is not official to myself,” said Carlisle manager Abbott, who signed the then-free agent in October. “If that is what Vince is going to do, we are probably powerless to prevent it. We have already made him a tremendous offer.
“But at the minute it is speculation rather than anything affirmative.”
Pericard’s current deal expires next Tuesday. The Cameroon player has scored six goals in 18 appearances for Carlisle, mainly as a lone striker.
He did not train yesterday because, like a number of his team-mates, he was unable to make it through the snow.
Given his pedigree – Pericard has also played for Portsmouth and Stoke City – there was always a danger of him using Carlisle as a stepping stone to better things. Abbott, though, was hoping he would do the honourable thing to repay the Cumbrians for giving him a chance to resurrect his flagging career.
Promotion challengers Charlton have also been linked with hijacking another of Abbott’s planned January transfer moves, making Tom Taiwo’s loan from Chelsea permanent.
Abbott, however, remains confident of completing the transfer “in the next 24 hours”. Ominously, there will be a pitch inspection as early as tomorrow for Saturday’s home game with Millwall.
