Cats boss finally signs City striker Benjani

Feb 3 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce was able to breathe a big sigh of relief last night as the Premier League finally agreed to allow Benjani’s protracted move to Wearside to go through.

The Black Cats faced an anxious wait yesterday after they failed to get all of the necessary paperwork to the Premier League and the Football Association before the 5pm deadline because of a meltdown in the club’s computer and communications network.

In normal circumstances that would have forced Sunderland – who had already agreed to let David Healy and Daryl Murphy go out on loan to Ipswich Town – to pull the plug on the transfer, but the Premier League were eventually convinced the excuse was valid.

Although initially sceptical of Sunderland’s claims as the paperwork from Alan Hutton’s move to the Stadium of Light had been received without any problems earlier in the day, they eventually validated the transfer after they were given independent proof the technical problems at the club’s training ground on Monday afternoon were genuine.

That ensured Benjani became

Sunderland’s third signing of the transfer window and will give the Black Cats added firepower as they look to turn their season around.

The 31-year-old has initially joined on loan until the end of the season, although the Zimbabwe international will hope to do enough on Wearside between now and May to convince Bruce to turn it into a permanent stay in the summer.