Wood Joins Tykes on Loan

Chris Wood has today joined Barnsley on loan for an initial three month spell at Oakwell.

Wood goes straight into the weekend squad for the match against Reading at the Madjeski Stadium. Barnsley currently sit 10th in the Championship, mainly as a result of their strong home form.

Wood will join a (semi-) illustrious list of All Whites who have played at the South Yorkshire club, Allan Pearce, Leo Bertos, David Mulligan, Jeremy Christie and Rory Fallon all started their careers there more than a decade ago. Signed after impressing during the U17 World Cup held in New Zealand in 1999, the Tykes proved a spring board into the English game for each player. Pearce never appeared for the first team and eventually moved on to Lincoln City before returning home. Bertos made twelve appearances before his best period in England at Rochdale followed by spells at a number of lower league outfits prior to his move to the Glory. Rory Fallon had the most success at Barnsley playing 52 times for the first team and scoring 11 goals before moving to Swindon. Mulligan was also a moderate success at Barnsley playing 66 times for the first team before moving to Doncaster after being released at the end of 2003/04 (despite being offered a new contract just 5 months earlier). Christie managed just 10 appearances before signing with the Football Kingz.

Back to Mr Wood - it appears that a rumoured loan deal with Derby was agreed before the close of the transfer window, but injuries to first team players scuppered that move and Barnsley have now swooped.

Good luck to Chris, we'll be watching with interest.

Comeback for Christie

After two months laid up with a groin injury, Jeremy Christie finally made his comeback in FC Tampa Bay's disappointing 3 nil loss to the Rochester Rhinos. Manager Paul Dalgliesh said Dalglish said he hadn't planned on letting Christie go the whole game but had no choice after Tampa Bay fell behind 2-0 in the first half, according to TampaBay.com. "I should have maybe taken him off in hindsight with 20 minutes to go so we didn't push him to keep him fresh for the Austin game," Dalglish said. "But hopefully (tonight), we'll see him a little bit sharper and then Montreal we'll see him a little bit sharper again."

FC Tampa Bay sit 9th and are one spot outside the play-offs with four matches to play, starting with the Austin Aztex this weekend.