Bradley Wright-Phillips will not be in Plymouth Argyle squad on Saturday
STRIKER Bradley Wright-Phillips will not play for Plymouth Argyle against Oldham Athletic at Home Park tomorrow (3pm).
Manager Peter Reid revealed the 25-year-old was not in the right frame of mind after his £300,000 transfer to Reading fell through earlier this week.
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The deal collapsed because of a knee injury which has troubled Wright-Phillips – League One's 13-goal top scorer – for much of this season.
Reid admitted there was a "conflict of opinions" over the way forward for Wright-Phillips.
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He told The Herald: "I have had a chat with Brad and, mentally, he's not right for tomorrow so he won't be involved.
"He has spoken to a consultant who has advised him that he should do some rehab work for at least a month.
"As a football club, we have been managing him through this and we have done it well. He has got 13 goals in 17 games.
"But the most important thing is how the lad feels. This weekend is definitely a no-go and then we will have a chat with him on Monday.
"It's a delicate situation because he has been told a certain thing by a consultant and we have been managing his injury in another way, so there is a conflict of opinions on it.
"It's something we will all look at after the weekend."
Wright-Phillips had agreed personal terms with Reading and was set to sign a two-and-a-half year contract, until his medical raised concerns over his knee injury.
Reading pulled out of the deal as a result, but have not ruled out making a move for the striker in the summer, when he will be a free agent.
Reid said: "Where we are now, we have just got to get on with it and move on.
"The most important thing is getting Brad right, physically and mentally.
"He has been doing a lot of travelling, he's tired and it's a huge disappointment for him."
Wright-Phillips was given permission to discuss personal terms with Reading last Saturday.
He was absent when Argyle lost 3-0 at Bournemouth the same afternoon, and also for the 3-2 defeat against Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium on Tuesday.
Argyle football consultant Peter Ridsdale would have put the fee received for Wright-Phillips towards paying off the club's outstanding tax debts to HM Revenue and Customs.
That would have led to the transfer embargo on the club being lifted by the Football League.
Reid could have then made a couple of loan signings before the game against Oldham.
But the collapse of the Wright-Phillips' transfer has put paid to that.
Reid said: "It's a blow, but it's just the way it is. We have got to get on with it."
Ridsdale now hopes the embargo will be lifted next week, when other sources of money are available to him.
Meanwhile, Reid is to talk to new Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell about striker Rory Fallon.
The New Zealand international has been on loan to Ipswich from Argyle since November.
Fallon has made four starts and two substitute appearances in the Championship for Town and scored one goal.
He has not been eligible to play for them in either the Carling or FA Cup.
Fallon was taken to Portman Road by former Ipswich boss Roy Keane and his loan ends on January 22.
Reid will want to find out whether Jewell is interested in signing Fallon on a permanent transfer.
If not, the Pilgrims' boss might try to bring him back to Home Park before January 22 because his squad has been so depleted by recent departures.
Reid said: "I have tried to get a call in to Paul Jewell, and to Ipswich as well, about the Rory Fallon situation.
"I don't want to comment on it until I have spoken to Paul."
Comments
by betablocka, Plymuff
Saturday, January 15 2011, 5:00PM
“The whole thing went like a bit like this i expect-
Reading- Look brad the knee aint right and needs a complete rest
Bradley- really
Reading- Tell you what trot off back to Plymouth til the summer get the knee right and then instead of the fee we pay plymouth we'll give you a nice little signing on fee and better wages.
Brad- sounds like a plan see you in June”
by Bigjohnnyk, Plymouth
Saturday, January 15 2011, 12:10PM
“I Hope He Is Still Getting His
Nine Thousand Five Hundred Pounds A Week Wages!”
by Dave, Plymouth
Saturday, January 15 2011, 12:26AM
“I think Reading had second thoughts about the amount they offered for BWP and pulled the plug after researching his medical history, using that as an excuse. Subsequently BWP is having a sulk because he's dipped out on his percentage of his transfer fee. He was fit enough to play before all this carry on, so he should be made to play today. If he under performs then sack him, as would happen in any other occupation. It sickens me the way these so called professional footballers are mollycoddled.”
by Hampo, Falmouth
Friday, January 14 2011, 8:45PM
“Man up BWP play or go”
by Ed, Bristol
Friday, January 14 2011, 6:07PM
“Read between the lines people - we're obviously still trying to sell him. Probably someone interested already and they don't want to risk his knee. Be gone by this time next week I bet you.”
by Mike, Spilligan
Friday, January 14 2011, 5:44PM
“Didn't seem to have too much wrong with him last game he played, in fact didn't he score ? If Reading had stumped up he would have been in their starting 11 this saturday....
Here's a good idea... give him a month off so that his injury can heal, keep paying his reputed eight grand a week, let him go for free in the summer when he is nice and fit... in the meantime Argyle are staring right down the relegation barrel.
If this lad isn't told to play on saturday he should be told that he is not being payed, failing that they should padlock the gates and tell everyone to go home because the club is obviously being run by the criminally insane”
by Colin, Southampton
Friday, January 14 2011, 4:35PM
“When at Southampton BWP was captured on CCTV alledgedly stealing from changining rooms as in the local newspaper. I believe if my memory serves me correct there was insufficient evidence to charge. Saints supporters said he could not hit a barn door when he was with them. We get him on a free. He then injures his knee behind close doors in a friendly with Exeter. We really have got little out of this because he has been on a high wage but he has paid very few games. Sorry state of affairs.
My list for getting rid hopefully soon are Fallon, Maclean, Clark, Patterson (bought in by Sturrock) Seip, Walton and hard has it might seem I have to say Timar as well. Followed by Board members. Start a fresh. I do think with experience our very young team will get better. At the moment their reading of the game is not up to speed and often they shut off at the back. Lets develop our youth structure and improve on our scouting rather than bringing useless players in like some of the names mentioned above. Look at what Bournemouth have achieved under difficult circumstances.”
by shaun, plymouth
Friday, January 14 2011, 4:09PM
“Bradley Wright-Phillips does not deserve this abuse and critiscism. He has scored 18 goals already this season and just because he's got a bad hip people are moaning at him. If he can't play on Saturday I'm sure he'll play in the Walsall match on Tuesday at Griffin park.”
by Frank, Plymouth
Friday, January 14 2011, 4:02PM
“I don't feel like work tomorrow either but I still have to go!
Let him rot in the reserves and train with the youth team. See how his knee copes with that. Hope he never plays again. Also fine him and suspend him too”
by Brian, Plymouth
Friday, January 14 2011, 1:40PM
“Hmm, can understand the disappointment and the fear of long term injury, but I think I av to agree, he must be more professional than this.
I would want to a little revenge myself and oldham would be my target, but all the best Bradders, ur still the best Wright-Philips.”