Karl Robinson: I would fight to keep Chris Wood
Thursday 24 August 2017 21:41, UK
Charlton boss Karl Robinson said he would have tried to fight to keep Chris Wood if he was manager of Leeds.
Speaking on EFL Matters on Thursday night, Robinson said he would have battled to try and keep a player like Wood, who joined Burnley earlier this week for £15million, at the club.
"Was he their best player? It would be unfair to say that about the rest of their team, but he was their most influential player and one of the best in the Championship," said Robinson.
"At some stage you've got to hold your hands up and accept he's going to move on, but I'd like to think that I would fight to keep the best player.
"When do you ever get the full £15m [to spend]? Most managers will tell you if it's £20m they'll probably get £10m. How often do you ever see someone going for that kind of money in the lower leagues and the manager gets the full amount?
"You can't replace him for £15m. You might get two players for £7m each, but that won't replace the one quality player you've got. Chris Wood had everything, the power, strength and ball retention."
Keith Andrews, however, who joined Robinson and presenter David Prutton on the show, said Wood was right to go.
"I think it's the right decision because he needs a crack at the Premier League in a team where he knows he's going to play," said the Sky Sports pundit.
"He needs to strike while the iron is hot and I can see why both parties accepted the money."
