US trialist turns down Sunderland offer - will Stead still come?

American striker Clint Mathis has ended his trial at Sunderland in the face of a moneyspinning offer from German club Hanover.

Mathis, 26, had had trials with Leicester City and Rangers prior to arriving at the Stadium of Light, and was expected to join Hanover at their winter training camp on Monday - but instead travelled to the North-East at Mick McCarthy's request.

Mathis had scored nine goals in 22 games with US side Metrostars, but has failed to score in his last eight games. Over his last four seasons, he has netted 33 times.

Hanover coach Ralf Rangnick hinted that money would probably be the deciding factor, saying Sunderland would need to make "an offer (Mathis) can't refuse" to stop him signing for the German club - and it seems that Hanover came up with an acceptable deal, where cash-strapped Sunderland couldn't.

It's understood that Hanover have offered Mathis a three-and-a-half year deal, and his agent David Baldwin said, "Mick McCarthy was keen to keep him but, with the way finances are in the First Division, the club simply cannot match an offer from a good Bundesliga outfit.

"He liked the club very much but the deal had to be right; it is just the way things are in football at the minute, he had a good offer and he has decided to take it."

Mathis is now expected to join his new Bundesliga colleagues in Turkey where they are preparing for the resumption of their campaign after the winter break.

But the American's decision doesn't spell the end of Mick McCarthy's search for new blood to help with Sunderland's promotion campaign. Although former Reading player Jamie Cureton wasn't awarded a deal after his recent trial, Wolves' Kevin Cooper was, and Sunderland are still monitoring the progress of Huddersfield's highly-rated Jonathan Stead. Stead, 20, is the third division's current top scorer, even outranking the impressive Lee Trundle of Swansea - but an £800,000 bid for the Terriers' player was turned down last month with his employers preferring to wait for any potential Premiership interest during the January transfer window.

SAFC vice-chairman John Fickling confirmed today that the club ARE still monitoring Stead: "Our interest in Jon Stead at Huddersfield is well documented and that is still ongoing. The initial bid was made and the clubs have stayed in touch.

"In the case of a player like Stead, you are investing in the future as well as the present. He is a player Mick believes could come in a make an immediate impact and we can see him having a bright future."

Fickling also confirmed that McCarthy would continue to investigate loan moves for the remainder of the season, as well as taking on more trialists.

"Mick is continuously bringing in trialists and looking at loans. This is not us doing things on the cheap, this is the way football is going now.

"Mick McCarthy is very keen to strengthen. As a board, it is our job to try and help him do that, but we have learned to our cost that throwing money at it does not necessarily solve a problem.

"We are allowed to bring in eight loan players over the course of the season and that is an avenue we can seek to pursue."

Sunderland currently have Wolves' Kevin Cooper on a three month loan, having previously signed Alan Quinn and Stewart Downing on temporary deals.

TICKET NEWS: Watford (A), Ipswich (A) (FA Cup R4)

Nationwide Division One
Watford v SAFC
Vicarage Road
Saturday 7th February 2004
Kick-off 3.00pm

Season ticket holders can apply by post only until 5.30pm on Friday 16th January 2004 - voucher 44 is required.

Tickets will go on general sale from 10.00am on Wednesday 21st January 2004 - subject to availability.

Prices:
Adults £20
Senior citizens £10
Juniors £10

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FA Cup fourth round
Ipswich Town v Sunderland
Portman Road
Saturday 24th January 2004
Kick-off 3.00pm

Season ticket holders
Season ticket holders have until 5.30pm on Tuesday, 13th January, 2004 to apply - voucher 55 required. Please supply credit card / debit card details or cheque payable to Sunderland AFC.

By post: applications addressed to: FA4, PO Box 165, Sunderland, SR5 1WF enclosing voucher 55, credit/debit card details or cheque made payable to Sunderland AFC. Please enclose a stamp addressed envolope.

In person: At the Stadium of Light ticket office, using voucher 55 from season ticket booklet.

General sale will commence from 10.00am on Friday, 16th January, 2004 - subject to availability.

Prices
Season ticket holders: (up to 5.30pm on 13/1/04) adults £21, OAP £14 and junior £4.
General sale: (from 10.00am 16/1/04) adults £23, OAP £16 and junior £4
Day of the match: (subject to availability) adults £24, OAP £17 and junior £4

SAFC vs Millwall - team news

John Oster will be fit again in time for Saturday's match against Dennis Wise's team at the New Den. The Welshman missed out on taking part in last weekend's victory against Nottingham Forest because of a calf strain - but he's told Mick McCarthy that he's fit for battle again.

Paul Thirlwell is another player who has also missed matches with a calf strain, but he is expected to be back in the squad at the weekend.

Julio Arca will not travel to Zampa Road after picking up his 5th yellow card of the season against Hartlepool two weeks ago. The ban is the Argentinian's third already this season and he said "When things are going this well you want to play every day but I must wait two weeks for another game. I don't think I've scored in three games in a row and I'm not going to get the chance to do so."

Sean Thornton took part in the reserves' 3-1 defeat against Middlesbrough earlier this week for 78 minutes - his first competitive action since being stretchered off with ankle ligament damage during the reserves' match against Newcastle last September. But he will NOT feature against Millwall because he isn't fully match-fit.

Gary Breen is back in training but will not be risked at The Den, although it's hoped he will be back for the first team in the next 1 - 2 weeks.

Matty Piper, who hasn't seen first team action since Sunderland's 2-0 win at Preston in August, is hoped to be available for selection in around 6-8 weeks.

Club solve dilemma over indoor training barn

From SAFC.com

Sunderland AFC and Sunderland City Council have come together to find a solution to the club’s need for an indoor training centre. The two parties have agreed a joint venture that will benefit both the football club and the community.

The Council realises the importance of academy status to Sunderland and has temporarily provided them with the indoor space they require to maintain this status - by leasing the unused ice rink space within Crowtree Leisure Centre.

Academy status is crucial to Sunderland for two reasons: Firstly, to attract the most talented young players and secondly, only clubs with academy status can play in the FA Premier Youth Leagues.

It is essential that up-and-coming players obtain regular experience of playing against the country's best youth teams. SAFC's Academy will primarily use this facility for the development of their young footballers by using the indoor pitch for after-school coaching sessions.

Sunderland Football Club will refurbish the ice rink, removing the existing boundaries and seating deck and will floor the whole space with indoor turf.

Work is expected to start immediately and is anticipated to take approximately two months. The ice rink equipment currently in place under the turf will remain untouched.

When complete, the conversion will bring Tyne and Wear its only turfed indoor area available for public use, and both the City Council and the club feel it is important to ensure maximum community access is given.

Through its charity arm, the SAFC Foundation, Sunderland AFC will staff the facility during the day from Monday to Friday and will invite to the facility community groups and schools to be coached by SAFC's community coaches.

In addition, the facility will be handed back to the City when not used by the club, to allow local groups to use it for their own sporting use.

SAFC vice-chairman, John Fickling, said: "This is absolutely fantastic news for all concerned. It has provided us with a temporary solution that allows us to maintain our academy status, it has made use of a currently unused area within the leisure centre and it has re-opened this area for use once again by the local community.

"For us this is a short-term solution which allows us to maintain our academy status while we consider longer-term options.

"We have always had a fantastic relationship with Sunderland City Council and I think this joint venture illustrates how the Club and the Council can come together to the benefit of all.

"Sunderland Council have recognised the importance of the Football Club to the City and have been extremely understanding of our needs.

"I would like to express our thanks to the Leader, in particular, who has been instrumental in driving this project and to the City Council as a whole."

Sunderland Council Leader, Cllr Bob Symonds said: "The Council has historically had a close working relationship with the Football Club and we are happy to help them out by leasing the ice rink on a short-term basis while its long term future is decided.

"The creation of an indoor football facility at Crowtree will also have spin-offs for the wider community, in particular City schools and young people who will be able to take part in SAFC Foundation community coaching sessions there."

Cabinet Member for Culture, Arts, Sports and Leisure, Cllr Mel Speding, said: "The development of sporting opportunities is a high priority for the Council and we are particularly keen to encourage young people to take part in sporting activities.

"Leasing the ice rink on a short term basis, to the SAFC Foundation, will not only help the club but will also have wider benefits with community groups able to hire the synthetic pitch when it is not in use by the Academy."

Groups who will especially benefit from the centre are those who might otherwise not be able to take part in football. In particular, the Football Club hopes the indoor area will allow coaches to pass on their skill to disabled children through regular sessions.

Sunderland City Council has granted the Football Club a two-year lease on the Leisure Centre facility, while they await the outcome of their leisure facilities review.