Perth Glory’s bid to beat Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea to Wayne Rooney’s signature may just have run out of steam after interim coach Ian Ferguson declared the ’45 trillion’ needed to bring him to nib Stadium just a little too steep.
On Thursday afternoon, the Glory earned worldwide attention after star striker Robbie Fowler told the club’s website he’d done his best to convince the disaffected Manchester United star to make the switch from the western England to Western Australia.
But in a light-hearted press conference on Friday morning – more humorous than most when your team has just endured five consecutive losses – Ferguson declared there was no chance Perth was looking at Rooney, despite Fowler’s cheeky comments.
The former Rangers player was still happy to add a few good lines for the cameras, though, as Glory defender Naum Sekulovski popped up beside him holding a picture of Rooney up to his face.
“I just want to announce our new signing here,” joked Ferguson. “As, I’ve seen on Foxsports and everywhere else, he’s just gone for about 45 trillion. I’d like you to welcome Wayne Rooney here.”
On a more serious note, Ferguson said he couldn’t believe the worldwide attention his club was receiving after staff fielded numerous calls from big name English tabloids and even from United States media organisations overnight.
“I’m actually gob smacked that this has actually run as far as it has,” Ferguson said.
“But as you say you know, any publicity is good publicity.”
“I think it’s a bit of tongue-in-cheek you know.”
“We got wind obviously that Wayne Rooney had had a massive bust-up with his manager and he’s not playing and he’s not happy.”
“So obviously Robbie’s been over there and he’s put two and two together and come up with five.”
“I think he said it in some comment when he was doing a live (TV) link, so I think that’s where it’s all picked up from, but there’s definitely no truth in that.”
“Look if we could get him we’d obviously love to have him but as I said before I think he’s a way out of our reach.”
At a more realistic level, Ferguson refused to speculate on reports former Melbourne Victory star Fred could be heading west for a guest stint at the Glory, or say whether the club was interested in Brisbane youngster Mitch Nichols.
“Fred’s a fantastic player and so is Mitch Nichols,” Ferguson said.
“Mitch Nichols is obviously under contract. I think these are two players that would definitely enhance Perth Glory.”
“So we’re always looking, we’re looking for players to try and bring in and give us that little change, hopefully that little x-factor.”
“(But) you know I can’t at this time, tell you who the players are we’re going for.”
