Soccer/Premiership: After the stresses and strains of transfer deadline day, Ireland midfielder Andy Reid could probably do with a few weeks off to recover.
Instead, he could find himself in the Tottenham Hotspur squad for tonight's game away to Bolton after signing for the Premiership club yesterday. The deal, that included England under-21 defender Michael Dawson, is worth £8 million to Nottingham Forest.
His appearance at training with Forest yesterday morning left onlookers assuming Reid would not, after all, be leaving the club, but when he and Dawson were summoned midway through the session to speak to manager Gary Megson and chief executive Mark Arthur it was evident that something was stirring.
The pair were told that, while Spurs had made a bid for them, a fee had not been agreed, but, with the Premiership transfer window closing at midnight, they were given permission to leave for London - to discuss personal terms and undergo medicals. In the meantime, Forest and Spurs continued their negotiations.
Finally, at tea-time, Forest confirmed that they had agreed on an £8 million deal, over a year since the London club had first declared its interest in Reid.
"Both players are understandably ambitious young men and are keen to play in the Premiership as soon as possible," said Arthur. "This represents a great opportunity for both of them and as a club we felt we could not stand in their way.
"The contributions of Andy and Michael to Nottingham Forest in recent years has been immense. They have been with us since they were schoolboys and have developed into two of the finest young players in the country. We will watch their progress in the Premiership with both a great deal of interest and pride."
Southampton manager Harry Redknapp was, then, proved correct after he had said on Saturday - when Forest accepted Southampton's offer for Reid - that he was "one million per cent" certain the player would not agree to the move. "I think Tottenham are in the background," he said. And so they were.
Spurs had had bids for Reid rejected before, all dismissed as "derisory" by the Midlands club.However, under coach Martin Jol they have been the most active of the Premiership clubs in this transfer window, bringing in Egyptian international Mido from Roma, Mounir El Hamdaoui from Excelsior Rotterdam and goalkeeper Radek Cerny from Slavia Prague - while pursuing several others, including Crystal Palace winger Wayne Routledge.
Reid will join fellow Dubliners and first-team squad members Robbie Keane, Stephen Kelly and Mark Yeates at White Hart Lane after almost seven years at Forest.
As fate would have it, Tottenham will play Forest in the FA Cup if Spurs get past West Brom in their fourth round replay.
Reid, though, will be cup-tied - his final appearance for Forest came in the competition against Peterborough last Saturday.
Factfile:
Born: July 1982.
Schoolboy clubs: Lourdes Celtic and Cherry Orchard.
Signed for Nottingham Forest: 1998.
Forest managers: David Platt, Paul Hart, Joe Kinnear, Mick Harford, Gary Megson.
Forest debut: November, 2000 v Sheffield United (Division One).
Forest League and Cup appearances: 160 (25 goals).
Irish senior caps: 12 (two goals).
Irish senior debut: November, 2003 (v Canada).
International honours: Youngest member of the squad that won the 1998 European under-16 championships in Scotland.
