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Leeds and Blackpool front runners for Ward as Wednesday withdraw

Sheffield Wednesday have withdrawn from the race for Joel Ward’s signature after refusing to pay Pompey’s asking price of £450,000.

Local papers, The Sheffield Star and Sheffield Telegraph, are reporting that the Owls have withdrawn from the race after facing competition with Leeds United, Blackpool, Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town and Burnley, with the newly promoted Owls reluctant to pay Pompey’s asking price.

It now seems that Blackpool and Leeds are the front runners, with Blackpool’s Championship status confirmed for another season after losing out in the Championship Play-Off Final to West Ham at the weekend, whilst  Leeds are considering a double bid for both Joel Ward and Greg Halford for around £1.5m.

Many thought the clubs were waiting to see if Pompey would enter liquidation, meaning Ward would be a free agent and could join any side of his choice, but with Pompey’s immediate future looking a bit sturdier with takeover bids from Balu Chanrai and the proposed fan bid from the Pompey Supporter’s Trust, it seems Blackpool and Leeds will have to open their wallets and show us the money.

It will be sad to see Joel Ward go as we all love having a local lad playing in the Pompey blue, but I think we’ve all come to realise that he will definitely be leaving the club. It now seems his imminent departure has become somewhat of a saga – but if Trevor Birch is to be believed, a deal could be complete as early as tomorrow!

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