Kuqi coup!
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 01 September 2011
Chairman hails Latics new boys
ATHLETIC chairman Simon Corney believes new striker Shefki Kuqi will provide much-needed know-how on and off the pitch.
A deal to bring The 'Flying Finn', famed for his belly-flop goal
celebration, was completed with around an hour to spare last night as the 11pm deadline loomed.
The former Stockport, Ipswich and Crystal Palace star (34), who played alongside Athletic manager Paul Dickov in a spell with Blackburn, was subject to interest from at least three other clubs, including sides in npower League One.
Committing his future to Athletic until the end of the season, Kuqi became the club’s second deadline-day signing.
The other is Norwich City’s box-to-box midfielder Tom Adeyemi, who has signed on loan until January 3.
“I am very, very happy,” said Corney. “There was a lot of hard work involved and Shefki had other offers open to him, for more money as well.
“We are paying a fair bit for him, but we felt we needed his sort of experience.
“Shefki has seen it and done it in the game. Talking to him, he is very impressive and his record speaks for itself.”
Kuqi, a former Finland international and a free agent since leaving Premier League side Newcastle in the summer, arrived at a local hotel in the early hours and was expected to train alongside his new team-mates this morning.
So too will Adeyemi. The 19-year-old has exchanged life in the top-flight for a loan stint with Athletic that runs up to January 3 next year.
A bright man off the field, Adeyemi turned down a place at Cambridge University in order to concentrate on his football career.
And a learning curve which began with a season-long stint at Bradford City in League Two last year — Adeyemi ended up playing 37 times and scoring five goals — will now continue under the tutelage of Dickov and his coaching staff.
“Tom was absolutely determined to come here to play football,” added Corney, of a player once named as Championship apprentice of the year.
“There were a couple of Championship clubs in for him but he wanted to come somewhere where he would get games.
“It will take time for him to bed in. But the fact that Norwich were prepared to let Cody McDonald go (to Coventry) after he scored 25 goals in League Two last season, yet were determined to keep hold of Tom, shows the regard he is held in.”
THE FLYING FINN
2000-01 Stockport, 18 appearances (7 goals)
2001-02 Stockport, 38 (14)
2002-03 Sheff Wed, 43 (8)
2003-04 Sheff Wed, Ipswich 51 (17)
2004-05 Ipswich 48 (20)
2005-06 Blackburn 41 (8)
2006-07 Blackburn, Crystal Palace 38 (8)
2007-08 Crystal Palace, Fulham, Ipswich 23 (1)
2008-09 Crystal Palace 37 (11)
2009-10 Swansea 20 (5)
2010-11 Swansea, Derby, Newcastle 22 (4)
A-GRADE ADE
2009-10 Norwich, 17 apperances (0 goals)
2010-11 Bradford, 37 (5)
