Sheffield Wednesday News 24/7Writer: Nick 
Date:Friday July 24 2009
Time: 2:12PM
UK time is: 06:55:02
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Owls Target Signs For Blades
Wednesday target Ryan France has turned down an offer from the Owls and made a shock switch to rivals Sheffield United today.
The former Hull City man was all set to make a move to S6 permanent after impressing on trial, and in pre-season matches in Malta and at Hartlepool United.
But after receiving a contract offer from the Owls this week, France has turned down the opportunity to play at Hillsborough in favour of a move to Kevin Blackwell's men.
And the move's sure to guarantee the versatile midfielder a tough time when he comes up against Wednesday this season.
It's also thought Plymouth Argyle were interested in the experienced 28-year-old, but Sheffield-born France is set to stay in his hometown with the red and white side of Sheffield.
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Your Comments
joke
mansfieldowl
lol i knew it, do they actually have they're own scouting sysytem or constantly offer our targets more money, are they really that bitter? seems ridiculous, oh well hes a crock anyway a decent crock but still a crock
wesp
it's actually getting to the stage where it's funny now. France isn't even that good. I'd have taken him as a squad player but nothing more. Thanks Kev
pob
ha ha luv it - big brother syndrome strikes again!! its only natural that when we came in for him he was going to snub you lot. (reality check)??
bladesforlife1889
Hahahaha!! What a joke that is, your welcome to him Bluntsforlife, he would have been nothing more than a squad player here.
Chin up.
Danigol_10_SWFC
play 1 game then crocked cruicate out for year,i say well done brian and the medical team for spotting the problem the blunts r welcome to him 6goals in 120 games speaks for it self
carlton owl
he probably knows he won't get into the team at S6 as much as pigville, poor old billy blunts!
pob
BFL, you're the smaller brother with more pocket money, that needs putting back in his place twice a season.
aball2112
joke we p*ss about not knowing if we will offer the kid a contract then he ****s off to pig**** lane, and same with a striker problem we will end up with a no hoper from some Latvian 6th division club who couldn’t hit a PIGS arse with a stick on loan for 3 months. As for bluntforlife you KN*ber big brother well mate your are just like big brother **** with no one watching you are a joke pal. You can have France along with that joke Billy Blunt.
HorburyOwl
ill be very suprised if we add anybody else to the squad(well anybody that will make a difference to the side) before the season starts---same old wednesday--1 big joke!!
supersibon
WTF! I thought this was a joke when i first saw it. I'm shocked, they do it everytime, they really are pathetic.
owlswfc
Calm down boys. If the lad has a knee problem and we've got a limited budget BL was only acting with care by offering a pay as you play deal. Do you want us to sign another semi permanent resident of the injury suite? France has chosen what he believes to be a more lucrative financial offer. Fair enough, how much would you take to put that red and white shirt on? I hope they are paying him well because I'd want to vomit at the sight of it. If he plays for the full season we'll know we dropped a clanger. If he screws his knee we'll know BL was right. Our midfield is pretty well stocked as it is. What we need is a STRIKER! Hopefully a decent one. C'mon folks, I know we get put through the mill on a regular basis but for f***s sake, let's not turn into basket cases over this piddling little matter. C'mon Wednesday!
robc
I knew the boy pfl would pipe up. 'We're a big club, we're a big club, look at us, look at us'. It's Ryan France, not Thierry Henry.
johnnywalker69
this has to be the best ever quote i've heard in years - blackwell on the france signing..............'I must admit that we had him watched whilst he was on a trial at our poor relations sheffield wednesday, and it was nice of them to get him fit for me'!!------------------ha ha luv it blackie nice 1!!
bladesforlife1889
did he say 'poor relations' pfl boy? i dont think he did. On a serious note, i cant fault Laws in offering him a pay as you play contract, United can afford to take a bigger risk in him, and their injury list has not been a tenth of Wednesdays over the last 10 years, so we had to be cautious.
johnnywalker69
oh so you like blackwell this week do you piggy? a couple of early defeats and youll hate him again
wedtillidie
i though you said that sufc were really unambitious and you werent really happy with what is going on. ched evans will be agood signing son but other than that you dont have much quality in your squad. 1st eleven v 1st eleven we kick your arse every time gimp boy.
ozzietheowl
could not care less him going to the dark side we have got two good midfield players this season dont need another LUNT in the squad i just hope BL puts the money he would have paid him to a few more quid and bring in ONE more player and a good striker at that cause thats all we are lacking..
dublin owl
ha ha ha xxxxxxxxxx knew you would like that johnny boy!!!
bladesforlife1889
nobody wants to come to us bloody hell we cant even convince the players weve got to sign new contracts
bradford_owl
as i have said before its a crying shame our chairman doesnt have the personal wealth of the chairman from the other side of the city
becuase we wouldnt be having such what are quite frankly embarresing situations
aussie2005
good luck to the blunt pigs im just past caring now my season ticket arrived this morning and il just keep turning up week after week and watchin the boys UTO
bradford_owl
anyone seen the amount of comments on Lee Straffords wall on facebook as a matter of interest?
aussie2005
Get real robc, he turned you down to go to the big club. You were all shouting to get him signed on after his goal at Hartlepool, now he's a crock!
gloucblade
aussie2005...Its nothing to do with personal wealth, and you know it. Its all about good financial housekeeping, a solid off field infrastructure - business that contributed £6m to the playing side last year - which continues to build even in these hard times. Stop kidding yourself.
gloucblade
Another United fan on our site. Why? With regards France I know nothing about him but he doesn't seem a great loss. Robc is right we can't risk another crock, United can. I agree with gloucblade about united being run as a business. Funny thing is though football doesn't follow the standard business model and sometimes the chairman has to act that way. niteds chairman is too cautious and doesn't re invest the money he gets in. How much of the £10m plus the beattie money will be re invested. Not much i bet. Ched evans is a waste of money. Just noticed united have planning permission to increse their gound to nearly 36000. Wow imagine that. Wonder how many free season tickets they will have to give away then. Stay on your own web site. Oink oink.
Radon Barrier
By the way, if united had any real ambition they would have reinvested the money to get a real manager - not stick with a poor mans Neil Warnock.
Radon Barrier
It's fair to say we all wanted this lad signed up. I think the majority have been impressed by him - having said that I tip my hat in Lawsy's direction because he's not willing to take another risk on board. Let's face it, we haven't had the best luck with injuries...
I just hope there's still a bit of money aside for bringing in a striker.
GameBurton07
gloucblade i dont disagree with you there however if LS had the wealth that KM has LS would be able to realise the aims and ambitions he has for the club and put in place similar infrastructure you guys enjoy at the lane
aussie2005
Is it school holidays already pfl? xxx. Oh look, another pig on here trying to convince us that their a big club. Yawn
johnnywalker69
Aussie2005....Having heard the latest outburst from Mr Strafford, you must be very embarassed...or are you? Those older dedicated Owls fans must be really upset with what appears to be arrogant, ill considered comments aimed squarely at the fans, and what is a 'large minority' ?
gloucblade
Johnnywalker, Raidonbarrier.... In response to your comment about another Blade on your page, Aussie2005 will confirm that there are several Owls fans who regularly post on our page, most of them with the usual wind up stuff, only aussie and auckland occasionally with any constructive comment.
gloucblade
Praise indeed. I don't see why we were in for France with Potter, Miller and Gray all secured. Couldn't care less that he's gone to United. Move on. Get the striker we need.
Auckland Owl
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