DEADLINE DAY DISASTER

THE mega-money moves for Robinho and Dimitar Berbatov grabbed all the headlines this week but transfer deadline day can be a cruel time for players.

I've moved twice at this time of the year but I was a lot luckier than my old team-mate Paul Gibbs, who was playing for Torquay when he got the deadline day call.

He was driving home from training when the manager rang to say Celtic had been on and would be calling back soon to confirm the bid.

Gibbo was told to get back to the training ground and was so excited he rang his parents and all his mates to tell them the good news.

He got back to the ground and waited...and waited...and waited. After five hours, the manager walked in and said: "Doesn't look like they are ringing back, I think it must have been one of the lads winding you up!"

Gibbo's dreams were crushed in a matter of seconds.

Like every football fan, I spent deadline day glued to Sky Sports News.

Blackpool weren't quite as active in the market as the team I support, Manchester City, but the gaffer did manage to make his 14th signing of the summer in Alan Gow.

I haven't seen him play but the fact Glasgow Rangers paid good money for him just a year ago, means he must be good.

The big money coming into football is starting to have an effect in the lower leagues.

The other day I asked one of the youth team lads to clean my boots and he simply answered: "If you cross my palm with silver then we can talk."

I was shocked, to say the least, but I had to admire his entrepreneurial spirit. After some negotiations I got him down to £40 a month, so it looks like I will be paying his Sky Plus subscription from now on.

I don't want to sound like an old man but back when I was a lad we had no choice about cleaning boots, and we did it for free.

I used to clean Kevin Gallacher's and Chris Sutton's at Blackburn and they certainly gave you some feedback if they were not sparkling!