Former Sunderland skipper Mickey Gray tonight said how pleased he was at getting back to Premiership football with Blackburn Rovers.
Gray, 29, has gone to Rovers on a free transfer after months of uncertainty about where his future lay. He spent three months on loan at Celtic but returned to Sunderland only for Mick McCarthy to tell him there was no place for him within a rejuvenated Sunderland team, and unable to represent his hometown club even at reserve level as Celtic had retained his registration. At one point Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers looked favourites to land the former England international’s signature, but Blackburn emerged at the eleventh hour and signed him late this afternoon.
Gray said of his transfer, “I’m really delighted with the move.”
He continued, “It is very exciting for me, not only to be joining a big club like Blackburn but also to be back in the Premiership.”
And his new gaffer Graham Souness said how pleased he was with his new acquisition. “We have followed Michael with interest for some time and one of the big plusses is his ability to play in all positions down the left.
“He has a good pedigree and we are pleased to welcome him aboard.”
Press release from Sunderland AFC
MICHAEL GRAY LEAVES SUNDERLAND
Sunderland’s longest serving player Michael Gray has completed a
permanent move to Blackburn Rovers. Sunderland awarded the player a free
transfer in recognition of his long service. Gray who joined Sunderland
as a trainee in July 1990 after being released by Manchester United has
made 411 appearances for his home city club scoring 17 times.
Blackburn Rovers have taken over the remainder of his contract, which
has two and a half years to run. This means that Gray joins the list of
high earners no longer on the wage bill at Sunderland.
Sunderland Chairman Bob Murray who personally negotiated the move said
of the former captain’s departure, “We wish Michael all the best for the
future. He has been a loyal servant of the club for many years and this
move gives him the opportunity to kick start his career with a new
challenge.”
Gray had spent the first half of this season on loan to Celtic where he
gained Champions League experience and Martin O’Neill’s club expressed
further interest in Michael along with Bolton Wanderers and Charlton
Athletic, but Blackburn came in and beat them to his signature.
Having recovered from seeing his decisive penalty saved in the 1998 Play
Off Final against Charlton, Gray bounced back to produce the best
football of his career and was capped three times by England during
Kevin Keegan’s spell in charge of the national side.
MICHAEL GRAY
Born Sunderland August 3rd 1974
Associated schoolboy Manchester United Oct ’88 to July 1990
Sunderland July 1990 to January 2004
Celtic on loan Sept to Dec 2003
England : 3 caps 1999 v Hungary, Bulgaria and Sweden
Division One championship winner with Sunderland in 1996 & 1999.
