LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 26: Russell Martin Manager of Southampton celebration after winning promotion to the English Premier League after beating Leeds United 1-0 during the Sky Bet Championship Play Final match between Leeds United and Southampton at Wembley Stadium on May 26, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
Harry Darling is set to snub another reunion with Russell Martin in favour of joining Norwich City where his team-mates will include Kenny McLean.
Freed by Swansea City, the ball playing defender was expected to sign up to the 49ers Revolution! after being signed by Martin for MK Dons and Swansea.
Alas it seems that 49ers war-chest couldn’t compete with the offer from Norwich leaving Martin looking towards Plans C, D and E in terms of central defenders.
With less than a week to go before pre-season starts it seems that the vegan Buddhist in charge at Murray Park will only have Robin Propper, Ben Davies and Leon King to work with in central defence. John Souttar has been given an extra week after being involved in Scotland’s two June friendlies.
Darling had been given the full treatment by the Ibrox hipsters who had taken a deep dive into the journeyman’s stats to uncover how many right-footed sideways passes he makes as well as a heat-map for his pre-match warm up.
All the wishful thinking and analysis counts for nothing when Norwich City offer hard cash for Darling who started 39 of Swansea’s 46 matches in last season’s Championship.
Really disappointed we are no longer in for Mulligan & Burgess. Both seemed very well suited, would have added badly needed physicality to the team. Seem like no brainers on free contracts. Lets hope better alternatives are lined up & this doesnt mean we’ve went for Coady instead
— ? (@FacelessRanger) June 14, 2025
The usual news will now leak out about how Sevco dropped their interest in Darling as they try to save face from the reality that the war-chest is even less than given to Phil Clement last season.
Alongside the lack of new signings there hasn’t been a single offer made for any of the serial losers that finished last season 17 points behind Celtic, costing Clement his job then denying Barry Ferguson the job that he had been craving.
Propper, Ridvan Yilmaz, Nedim Bajrami, James Tavernier, Jack Butland and the usual suspects will soon be expressing their delight about the fresh ideas brought in by the guy that won five points from 16 EPL matches last season at Southampton.
Adding to the distress of the expectant bears Rabbi Matondo, Kieran Dowell, Davies and Jose Cifuentes will all be back after being out on loan last season.
That isn’t quite the spending splurge that the Daily Record promised as they championed the cause of the San Francisco 49ers only to find out that mystery man Andrew Cavenagh was running the show after striking a deal with Dave King.
#NCFC fans – it’s time to get pumped about Harry Darling! ?
Check out my chat with his Former coach, Mark Fotheringham ?? https://t.co/Lzks6zC9XK
— Chris Reeve (@ChrisReevo) June 16, 2025
They have though seemingly “ won the race “ for Kwame Poku, beating off 27 teams according to one rag whilst another says it was 30 teams.
He fits the bill in that he was plagued by injuries. One team allegedly were offering him £30k pw but despite the fact Championship clubs were battling for his signature he is going to Ibrox on a free for a mere compensation fee that will be much lower than his club could have gotten from an English club.
Another on his way to Ibrox allegedly is Max Aarons of Bournemouth. Was ok at Norwich and progressed to Bournemouth for £7m despite being subject of £20m interest from Man Uand Liverpool. He has lost his way and has only played 9 games in the whole of last season, 7 from the bench and two with some Spanish team who are sending him back.
These hacks must think our heads button up the back when they are turd polishing. Brendan will be shampooing himself
The papers go round the houses for excuses why they ain’t getting the players they want
Yet every other team gets the snubbed headline
Wouldn’t know personally Harold as don’t buy The Scummy’s !
“Darling?! The last person I called ‘darling’ was pregnant twenty seconds later! Woof!”
Lord Flashheart, Flanders, 1917
Harry is me darling, me darling, me darling – Harry is me darling for knocking back The Huns !