<div class="ds-headline" id="ds-headline">Owls keeping check on Barnsley star McPhail</div><div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara">Barnsley v Bradford City </div><div class="va-bodytext" id="va-bodytext">Ian Appleyard SHEFFIELD Wednesday are monitoring the outcome of contract talks between Barnsley and Stephen McPhail. The former Leeds United and Republic of Ireland international midfielder has yet to sign a new deal and may opt to leave as a free agent if Barnsley fail to win promotion. Owls manager Paul Sturrock deployed coach Mark Smith to check on McPhail in Barnsley's game against Southend and is determined to strengthen his midfield. McPhail, 26, is regarded as one of the best left-footed players outside the Premiership and was a member of the Leeds squad that reached the semi-final of the Champions League five years ago. Now, after two years playing League One football, he is desperate to play at a higher level but could yet achieve that goal with Barnsley who are on course for play-off qualification. "We're all committed and want to get into the Championship, that's the main aim," said McPhail. "I've spoken with the chairman about a new deal, so it's in the pipeline, but we have to wait and see. Most of the squad don't know where they are next season and it's a bit unsettling, especially going into such big games." Victory over Bradford today will guarantee a play-off place if Nottingham Forest lose to Bournemouth. Defender Neil Austin has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn hamstring and and is set to be replaced by Bobby Hassell. Centre-back Matt Carbon will miss out again with a groin injury but should be fit for the final league game of the season against his former club Walsall. Manager Andy Ritchie is confident that his side can win promotion and wants to extend the unbeaten run of four games to ensure the club is on a high as they enter the play-offs. Bradford City's second unnamed prospective investor has rejected a chance to join the board but talks are continuing with commercial manager Peter Etherington, who is set to invest £2.5m in the club over the next three years. City are looking to claim a first win over the Tykes at the fourth attempt. Andy Ritchie: "Automatic promotion may not be there for us anymore but we have stil got to make sure we hold on to one of the final play-off positions. Colin Todd: "We have already had three cracking games with Barnsley this season. We are hungry for some reward." Positions: Barnsley 5th, Bradford 11th. Last time: Barnsley 1 Bradford 1; December 3 2005; FA Cup second round. Key men: Stephen McPhail (Barnsley). Best odds: Barnsley – 8/13 (Stan James); draw – 11/4 (Bet365); Bradford – 9/2 (Betdirect).</div><div class="va-date" id="va-date">29 April 2006</div>
RE: Well done Mr Shepherd.....unsettled players. I think that's a little unfair. The present situatio suitas both parties. Don't forget, McPhail had a contract extension from Barnsley sitting waiting to be signed at the end of last season - but he hung around to see if he got a better offer before signing up again. I think if Mr Shepherd made him an offer now (unless it was a daft one), he would not take it. For starters, we would be able to pay him more should we be in the championshiop. Any offer he get now will be at League on rates of pay. Incidentally, the fact that he didn't win the POTS will help us a bit also. HTH Stephen
They can **** off. Please...... Ritchie, Shepherd.... gerrim to stay....</p> Please dont let him leave..especially to them ******.</p>
RE: Well done Mr Shepherd.....unsettled players. yeah but like previously said on here loads they can offer mcphail a contract saying thats what you would get in league one, and this is what you will get if we go up.
What Shephard said about contracts........... He said summert like this... "We know who we want to stay But at this moment in time we dont know what division we will be in Also we can't sign up any of the players at the moment because if we do it will unsettle those players that don't get a contract" Which is reight in it Thing about McPhail....he has started playing better and putting himself around the field more........could this be because he hasn't got a contract ? What do you think ? !!!
