Yorkshire Evening Post 27/10/11
Paynter joins Brighton and Hove Albion on loan
By Phil Hay
Brighton have completed the signing of Billy Paynter after reaching a deal to take the striker on loan from Leeds United until January 2.
Paynter saw his wish for a move to another Championship club granted last night after Leeds and Brighton reached an agreement over a transfer to the Amex Stadium.
Brighton manager Gus Poyet is a long-term admirer of Paynter’s but had previously failed with a number of attempts to lure the 27-year-old to the south coast.
Talks over a permanent transfer came to nothing at the end of the summer transfer window, and the prospect of United sanctioning a loan to Albion appeared remote once Grayson ruled out a deal involving a Championship side with prospects of promotion or an appearance in the play-offs.
Speaking last week, Grayson said: “One or two people from the Championship have enquired about him.
“I won’t be lending him out to any rivals who are in or around us and if he did go to a club from the Championship then it would be one down near the bottom. Any deal needs to suit all parties.”
Brighton sit two points behind Leeds in the table but United have agreed to a loan until the turn of the year and Paynter has finalised the switch ahead of Albion’s league game against Birmingham City.
Poyet had seemed equally doubtful when asked recently about his chances of signing Paynter, saying: “It was an option in the summer and it was an option a month ago.
“He’s still not in their squad but it looks like we can’t get him. Maybe Leeds think we’re a team who are going to be fighting for the same place.”
Preston North End also expressed an interest in Paynter following Grayson’s decision to make him available but the League One club were unable to conclude the signing as Paynter held out for a move which allowed him to remain in England’s second tier.
The striker had no immediate future at Elland Road, in a squad which contains four other proven forwards.
Ross McCormack and on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers player Andy Keogh are Grayson’s preferred partnership at present, with Luciano Becchio - last season’s top scorer - consigned to the bench.
Finnish international Mikael Forssell is ahead of Paynter in the selection order but has failed to feature in United’s group of substitutes for their recent games against Peterborough United and Birmingham.
Grayson signed Paynter on a free transfer from Swindon in the summer of 2010 but the striker’s short spell at Elland Road has been hindered by injury and defined by a lack of goals.
He has scored only once for United in 23 Championship appearances.
Paynter joins Brighton and Hove Albion on loan
By Phil Hay
Brighton have completed the signing of Billy Paynter after reaching a deal to take the striker on loan from Leeds United until January 2.
Paynter saw his wish for a move to another Championship club granted last night after Leeds and Brighton reached an agreement over a transfer to the Amex Stadium.
Brighton manager Gus Poyet is a long-term admirer of Paynter’s but had previously failed with a number of attempts to lure the 27-year-old to the south coast.
Talks over a permanent transfer came to nothing at the end of the summer transfer window, and the prospect of United sanctioning a loan to Albion appeared remote once Grayson ruled out a deal involving a Championship side with prospects of promotion or an appearance in the play-offs.
Speaking last week, Grayson said: “One or two people from the Championship have enquired about him.
“I won’t be lending him out to any rivals who are in or around us and if he did go to a club from the Championship then it would be one down near the bottom. Any deal needs to suit all parties.”
Brighton sit two points behind Leeds in the table but United have agreed to a loan until the turn of the year and Paynter has finalised the switch ahead of Albion’s league game against Birmingham City.
Poyet had seemed equally doubtful when asked recently about his chances of signing Paynter, saying: “It was an option in the summer and it was an option a month ago.
“He’s still not in their squad but it looks like we can’t get him. Maybe Leeds think we’re a team who are going to be fighting for the same place.”
Preston North End also expressed an interest in Paynter following Grayson’s decision to make him available but the League One club were unable to conclude the signing as Paynter held out for a move which allowed him to remain in England’s second tier.
The striker had no immediate future at Elland Road, in a squad which contains four other proven forwards.
Ross McCormack and on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers player Andy Keogh are Grayson’s preferred partnership at present, with Luciano Becchio - last season’s top scorer - consigned to the bench.
Finnish international Mikael Forssell is ahead of Paynter in the selection order but has failed to feature in United’s group of substitutes for their recent games against Peterborough United and Birmingham.
Grayson signed Paynter on a free transfer from Swindon in the summer of 2010 but the striker’s short spell at Elland Road has been hindered by injury and defined by a lack of goals.
He has scored only once for United in 23 Championship appearances.
