Neil Davidson: Radzinski Blasts Everton

[Winnipeg Fury]

Radzinski blasts Everton

By NEIL DAVIDSON

(CP) - Canadian striker Tomasz Radzinski, embroiled in a contract dispute with his English club side, may have hastened his departure from Everton after blasting the Premier League club and its manager in an interview with the Liverpool Echo.

The story topped the Echo sports section Friday under the headline: Everton Rocked by Rad Attack. Radzinski poured gasoline on his contract fire by doing the unthinkable - saying teenage England star Wayne Rooney should quit the Liverpool-based club.

"Wayne has shown in Euro 2004 that he can play at the top level and I think he needs to move on to further and better himself," Radzinski told the Echo.

"My feeling is that Wayne will definitely move and I hope he'll go somewhere where he can improve and grow as a player and sadly I don't think that is Everton."

Everton has offered Rooney a new five-year, 12.5-million-pound ($30.6 million Cdn) contract, the richest in club history in a bid to keep the 18-year-old in the fold.

Rooney, who has two years left on his existing deal, has reportedly also drawn interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Radzinski, who cost Everton 4.5 million pounds ($11 million Cdn) in 2001, has one year left on his contract.

He was unhappy when the team only offered him a one-year extension, submitting a transfer request that was turned down.

When Everton upped its offer to a three-year deal, it was the Canadian who said no.

"Last season was a disaster," Radzinski was quoted in the Echo. "I ran my arse off for the club and in January the manager said as soon as we were safe I would get my rewards which I took to mean a new contract.

"But I was only offered a one-year extension and the indecisiveness of the manager was affecting my form. Anyone who knows David Moyes will know he cannot make a decision. It was so frustrating.

"Then finally they offered me a new three-year contract at the end of last week. But my frustration had become so big that it was too late by then."

Radzinski, 30, told the Echo that Moyes had not called him in the two months since the end of last season.

"That makes me think the club does not want me and for any player that is difficult to accept.

After his outburst in the Echo, Radzinski can count on a conversation with Moyes, a hard-nosed Scot.

According to Everton's official website, Moyes wants to speak to Radzinski first before commenting on his outburst.

"All we can really say is that we are aware of the article but what we don't know is whether it has been written accurately and whether Tomasz has said the things he's supposed to have said," assistant manager Alan Irvine was quoted on the website.

"It doesn't sound like Tomasz to me. He's back on Monday and what we'll do is we'll have a chat with him and see what his feeling is about the article and see whether it is something which he actually did or if it's something he didn't do or he's been misquoted."

Everton has already opened pre-season training but Radzinski was allowed to arrive late, because he missed some of his summer playing for the Canadian national team.

"I think of better places I would rather be on Monday but I have got a year left on my contract so I will be there and see what happens after that." he told the Echo. "I would like to stay in the Premiership because it is a great league.

"But I'm 30 years old, I'm ambitious and I want to achieve big things in my career."

With one year left on his contract, Everton may shop the Canadian immediately if it wants rid of him rather than get nothing when he becomes a free agent.

But the team will be without Rooney for the start of the season after he fractured his foot at the European championship.

Other forward options include new signing Marcus Bent, Duncan Ferguson, Kevin Campbell, James McFadden and Radzinski.

Radzinski also told the Echo he expected Everton to be fighting relegation this season and said Bent isn't enough to stop the team "struggling again."

The Canadian had eight goals last season for the Toffees and 11 the year before.

He has played for Canada 22 times, scoring seven times, and is a key member of the team slated to resume World Cup qualifying next month.

Notes: Vancouver goalkeeper Pat Onstad has been named a starter for the West at the MLS all-star game. The San Jose Earthquakes 'keeper was chosen MLS goalie of the year last season, his first in the league. ... Games between Canadian and German under-15 women's teams have been scheduled for Sept. 3 in Charlottetown, Sept. 5 in Moncton and Sept. 6 in Halifax ... A Canadian under-17 men's developmental camp starts Saturday in Blaine, Minn. The Canadians will play four games there, including two against the U.S. ... Canadian under-20 coach Dale Mitchell has called in 18 players for a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from July 16 to 27.