FROM THE STAR EVEN SOUTHEND ARE BIDDING 300,000 POUNDS FOR PLAYERS NOW

LUCAS SIGNS UP FOR REDS


By Simon Meeks
Barnsley


NEW Barnsley keeper David Lucas will travel to Southend United tomorrow with the rest of the squad but can expect to view Saturday's FA Cup tie from the bench.
The 29-year-old is expected to be understudy to Oakwell No 1 Nick Colgan.
Lucas played in the same Preston North End side as Barnsley boss Simon Davey in the late 1990s.
"I need two first team keepers, we've been short in that department," Davey said.
Lucas has accepted a month to month contract with Barnsley and will replace teenager Kyle Letheren in the club's pecking order.
Davey added: "Kyle is an excellent young keeper but we need experience. I worked with David at Preston and he's been at Sheffield Wednesday too."
Lucas was linked to Barnsley back in November when he first trained at Oakwell having been released by Sheffield Wednesday last May.
He made 150 appearances for Preston and went on loan to Darlington and Scnuthorpe before Chris Turner signed him for Sheffield Wednesday in October 2003.
He played 80 games for the Sheffield club before being released and is understood to have had a trial at Norwich City before agreeing to join Barnsley.
Davey was today planning for Saturday's cup tie, knowing he will be without centre back Antony Kay (suspended); midfield players Grant McCann, Colin Healy (both cup tied) and Kyel Reid (barred from playing by West Ham).
He will check on injured duo Paul Reid (shin) and Brian Howard (shoulder) today.
Motherwell have rejected a £300,000 bid from Southend United for Scott McDonald.
The 23-year-old Melbourne-born striker has scored nine goals this season and has 18 months left on his contract at Fir Park. He joined Motherwell in January 2004. His previous clubs include Southampton, Bournemouth and Hudders-field Town.
Former Barnsley boss Andy Ritchie is understood to have turned down the chance to manage Rochdale, who have appointed caretaker boss Keith Hill until the end of the season.
n BRIAN Laws today called on Wednesday fans to help the club cope with a Manchester City invasion.
City have sold all their 6,100 tickets for Sunday's FA Cup clash at Hillsborough.
It guarantees the Premiership side, who reached the quarter-finals last season, a big push from their supporters.
But Laws believes that the Owls can be given extra impetus by the home crowd and wants them to counteract the effect of the large away following.
"Backing from our supporters can outshout the City fans," he said.

 

Why is the barnsley/sheffield star mentioning southend offering for random players? It doesn't normally mention other teams, just local stuff. Seems a bit strange.

 

Err - cos we play em on Setdi??