Ex-QPRs Jackett Transfers Leon Knight...Knight Reacts

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Western Mail
Jackett cites Knight's lack of fight for decisionOct 17 2006

KENNY JACKETT pulled no punches yesterday as he explained his decision to place his top scorer on the transfer list.
But rather than for causing a scrap, it was Leon Knight's lack of fight that the Swans boss pointed to regarding his decision to cut the striker loose.
Some reports have suggested a half-time bust-up at Nottingham Forest last month involving Knight eventually culminated in the 24-year-old's omission from the Swans squad that travelled to Chesterfield on Saturday.
That, and a general unhappiness with his attitude, was thought to be behind Jackett's move to take the next step yesterday and make Knight available for transfer.
But Jackett backed the player by insisting there was no single incident that has caused the sudden end of Knight's Swansea career.
And, instead, Jackett claimed Knight's unwillingness to pull his weight when the going gets tough provoked yesterday's shock move.
"Leon is in a situation where the best thing for him and the club is that he goes to seek pastures new," said Jackett.
"The main reason, and I've told him, is that I think he can work harder.
"And for our side to get out of this division we need to work, we need to scrap and battle through and get results when perhaps we don't deserve them. Spirit and attitude get you out of this division.
"There's no one particular incident. It's nothing personal with me or Leon, I just feel it's the right thing for the club.
"It's not a bust up, not an individual thing, it's just my view on the whole time he's been here as opposed to one incident or argument with me."
Rumours began to fly at the weekend as to just why Jackett had decided to drop his top striker with a goal-scoring record in a Swansea shirt that cannot be faulted.
When a player with 19 goals in 25 starts is left out of a match-day 18 altogether, questions will be asked.
Jackett responded by citing football reasons for his absence and when the pair sat down to clear the air yesterday it became apparent the decision had been made to circulate Knight's name to rival bosses.
"He's very disappointed but after being left out of the squad he came to see me," said Jackett. "He wanted some sort of clear indication where his future lies - I said his future lies elsewhere and I'll be placing him on the transfer list.
"People will be surprised as he stands at the moment as the top scorer but I think it's the right decision. Otherwise I wouldn't do it.
"And yes, I'm disappointed with the way things have worked out because he's tremendously talented player. But he's one who I don't see with a future at Swansea City.
"You never say never but it is doubtful if you'll see him in a Swansea shirt and I think a nice clean break is the best thing for all concerned."
It was a shock to Knight himself that he will soon be leaving the Liberty, just as Jackett had shocked the opposition when he pounced to sign him back in January.
Regarded as a steal at £125,000, Jackett would have been well aware of the bad-boy reputation that accompanied the Londoner, his departure from Brighton prompted after a high-profile fall-out with manager Mark McGhee.
But Jackett avoided questions on whether Knight was indeed being shown the door for being an unsettling influence.
"I certainly think he can work harder and I certainly think my side, needs - without a doubt - to fight, to scrap and to work hard," he said. "There was some outstanding bits of quality on Saturday but also what I'm looking for is when we have to go to the Chesterfields with our tin hats and get those type of results.
"Where Leon comes into that, in the mix of personalities, I think the best thing for the club is that he finds pastures new - and I've told him that. I'm looking at the mix of my players, how they react and respond to each other. That is a big thing in any promotion side.
"Perhaps it was gamble to sign him in the first place but what he did at the end of last season he almost fired us into the Championship as well.
"With his goal-scoring record he will be sought after and we will be looking for a fee for him."
What Swansea will get is unknown, depending on whether other managers - rightly or wrongly - are put off by Knight's reputation or if a club find themselves a striker light. But Swansea would certainly be looking to recoup the money they paid, especially with the Seagulls due a sell-on percentage....
Western Mail

Staff Reporter, Western Mail - Leon Knight Responds

LEON KNIGHT last night expressed his shock after being sensationally placed on the transfer list yesterday.
Swansea City's top goalscorer was instructed he was no longer wanted at the club when he met manager Kenny Jackett for the first time since being told he wouldn't be travelling to Chesterfield for Saturday's League One clash.
The Swansea manager had insisted Knight's absence from the 18-man matchday squad was purely for footballing reasons.
But Jackett has now admitted it was Knight's attitude that has cost him his Swans career, claiming he could have worked harder for the team.
Last night a shocked Knight vehemently denied sparking any fights or causing a rift inside the Swans dressing room.
It's nothing to do with me or there being a ruckus," said a visibly shaken Knight when he spoke to the Western Mail just moments after being given the news by Jackett.
"I've heard a lot of things being said about there being fights or cliques being made in and around the dressing room.
"Everyone moans on the training pitch and I moan because I'm a winner and I want to win.
"I'm a big enough man to admit that sometimes on the training pitch I do say the wrong thing, or perhaps just things in the wrong way, but everything stays there.
"I'm too old for stuff like fights or anything like that. I've been involved in that kind of thing before, which everyone is well aware of, and I'm not looking to go back down that road.
"People aren't going to believe it's for footballing reasons, but that's what it is."
Knight's fantastic scoring record since his £125,000 move from Brighton in January will no doubt produce raised eyebrows at Jackett's decision.
With 19 goals in just 25 league and cup starts, the product of the Chelsea youth system had represented good value for money.
Knight's end-of-season goals fired Swansea into the League One play-off final last season and he is this term's top scorer with seven.
"I don't know what to think to be honest," said Knight. "I've been told it's for footballing reasons - he (Jackett) wants to try something new, I don't work hard enough and I moan too much basically.
"That's his opinion and everyone's entitled to their own. But I'm sure there's people who are surprised this has happened if they look at my goal record - and that's what's running through my head as well.
"Of course I'm disappointed it's ended like this but what can I say or do? I can't tell the manager how to do his job.
"If he wants to try something new and I haven't got a part to play in that then what can I say?
"The manager brought me here and I'm a goalscorer - nothing else but a goalscorer.
"People saying I'm not working hard enough, well there's different types of striker like Rory (Fallon) who will go back for corners and work a lot.
"But then you've got natural goalscorers - and I'm one of them.
"I could be quiet for 89 minutes then pop up in the 90th and score the winning goal.
"I'm one of them but obviously the gaffer doesn't want that sort of striker in the squad and that's why he's put me on the transfer list."
[Western Mail