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Search forRotherham loan deal off for Bristol City keeper Chris Weale
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 15:28
Rotherham United boss Mark Robins bid for Weale as emergency cover for injured keeper Andy Warrington who will be out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury. But Weale will be staying put at Ashton Gate as City would not have been able to recall him easily enough in the event of injuries of their own.
As a result, Bristol City boss Gary Johnson refused to take any risks in terms of cover between the sticks and had to pull the plug on the deal.
He said: "The transfer regulations say we wouldn't be able to recall Chris if either Adriano Basso or Stephen Henderson suffered an injury, leaving us short of a keeper. The only way we would have been able to recall Chris is if both Adriano and Stephen were injured, which still leaves us with only Chris once recalled.
"We can't afford to be left short and that's why it won't be happening."
Weale has made five starts and two substitute appearances for City this season, his last being at Wolves on September 27. But the Yeovil-born shot stopper has been unable to wrestle the number one jersey from Brazilian Adriano Basso and is short of match practice.
"It would have been a good move for everyone involved," said Johnson on the club website. "It's a sad situation and stops people from earning a living.
"It would have been a good move for Chris to get some games and Rotherham are doing really well. They're only in the bottom half because of their points deduction."
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