It is back to the harsh realities of the Championship and January Transfer Window time meaning another player from the Academy being sold. His contract was up in the summer, so his departure was sadly inevitable. It doesn’t make it any easier to take though. The same happened last January regarding Adam Johnson. Boro fans are left holding their heads in their hands. Not again!

 The deal was confirmed by Sky Sports and Middlesbrough Football Club this morning that David Wheater has joined Bolton Wanders on a 3 and a half year deal. On the Tall 6 Foot, 5 Inch central defender, he always gave 100% for the club. He is a great aerial threat at set pieces and has a commanding presence in both boxes. He had times when he’s been out of form, it’s not been easy for him having different central partners and not playing in a settled back line.

 There have been plenty of warnings from Tony Mowbray to the fans about our financial position and how he must sell to create his own transfer funds. So it was only a matter of time before Wheater was sold. Financially we don’t have the money to offer David a new contract, and can’t afford players to leave on a free. Put quite simply, Tony needs to use some of the money to revamp the squad.
 I know there will be higher earners at the club than David Wheater. It’s a good fee for a player who would leave for nothing in the summer. I’m sure if the circumstances where different he would still be with the Boro trying to get us back into the Top Flight of English Football. So he will be another Ex Boro player, playing in the Premiership, for us Boro fans MOTD can be heart breaking to watch.

 I feel for Mogga, he’s not had the money previous managers have had. Anmd is faced with major problems with parachute payments soon coming to an end. He needs to make his own transfer funds by shipping players out. I just hope by February that a few more high wages earners have exited the football club.  Tony needs to reshuffle the squad and get a combination he’s happy with and one that will help us financially.

The academy has been successful for us at Middlesbrough producing a number of talented players. I don’t take any pride in selling our best young players. I just hope we can recover financially and we are in a position to keep our better players in the future. Nothing fills us fans with more pride than watching a local lad doing well for his home town club.
I wish The Redcar Rock well he always gave 100% for this club.
All the best David with Bolton.
 First published on FMTTM Site 20 Jan 2011.