Sunderland have completed the signing of West Brom's Irish international Kevin Kilbane. After a day of talks Kilbane agreed a four-and-a-half year deal with the Premiership side, and now joins up with fellow Irish internationals Niall Quinn and Paul Butler.
West Brom accepted the bid from Sunderland yesterday and Kilbane pulled out of Albion's team for last night's match at Grimsby. He will be paraded at a press conference on Friday at the Stadium Of Light.
Albion made it clear they had accepted the offer because of the Bosman Ruling. Under the ruling he could have left the Firts Division club for nothing.A club statement read: “West Bromwich Albion Football Club have reluctantly accepted an offer from Sunderland for the transfer of Kevin Kilbane.” It means Albion will double the record £1.25 million they paid to Preston in 1997.
The player and his agent had informed the club that they would not be prepared to renegotiate a new contract to replace his current agreement, which expires at the end of next season.
Meanwhile, the Irish contingent at Tranmere Rovers, which includes John Aldridge as manager and Alan Mahon, Joe Murphy and David Kelly in the first team, progressed into the semi-finals of the league cup last night after a 2-1 win over Middlesborough. David Kelly scored the first of the goals.
Aldridge was close to resigning after a dreadful start to the season but things have really turned around for the ex-Irish international turned manager.
