Wigan win King chase
Striker signs three-and-a-half year deal
Last updated: 25th January 2008
King: Opted for Wigan
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Wigan Athletic have completed the signing of Marlon King from Watford on a three-and-a-half year contract.
King appeared poised to join Wigan's Premier League rivals Fulham a week ago and was hoping to face Arsenal last weekend.
But the deal was held up while Fulham tried to renegotiate the payment method on a £5million deal for the 27-year-old.
Earlier this week, Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd confirmed two more top-flight clubs had made offers for the former Gillingham striker.
And the impasse regarding a move to Craven Cottage prompted Wigan boss Steve Bruce to step in and agree a deal.
Very welcome
"I just spoke to Steve Bruce and he made me feel very welcome," King told Sky Sports News.
"You look at the Wigan team and they have got a good chance of survival, and there is not much more to say than that."
Regarding the collapse of his move to Fulham, King insists concerns about his fitness were not behind the deal not going through.
He added: "I was down there and had a long medical, and for some reason it took a hitch and I think the two clubs were trying to renegotiate the fees which had nothing to do with me.
Fit and well
"I picked up the papers to see I had failed a medical, but I know my body is 110 per cent and I would like to say I didn't fail a medical. I have been playing for a season-and-a-half now and scoring goals.
"Everybody knew about the knee injury I had, but I played every single game since I've been injured. To be told it could happen in three years, well in football anything could happen.
"I'm fit and well as far as I'm concerned, and as far as Wigan are concerned. I didn't fail a medical. I had one today and it went smoothly.
"I had been speaking to Fulham for the last week-and-a-half and for whatever reason it didn't happen. Steve Bruce made it clear he wanted me and I'm a Wigan player now."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 13th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Doncaster |
| 15:00 | Blackpool vs Barnsley |
| 15:00 | Cardiff vs Bristol City |
| 15:00 | Charlton vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Coventry vs Preston |
| 15:00 | Crystal Palace vs Swansea |
| 15:00 | Ipswich vs Reading |
| 15:00 | Nottm Forest vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Plymouth vs Norwich |
| 15:00 | Sheff Wed vs Watford |
| 17:20 | Derby vs Sheff Utd |
| Sunday 14th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 16:00 | QPR vs Southampton |
| Tuesday 16th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Barnsley vs Cardiff |
| 19:45 | Bristol City vs Birmingham |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Blackpool |
| 19:45 | Doncaster vs Charlton |
| 19:45 | Preston vs Nottm Forest |
| 19:45 | Reading vs Sheff Wed |
| 19:45 | Sheff Utd vs Coventry |
| 19:45 | Swansea vs Derby |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 30th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Watford 2 - 1 Ipswich | |
| Barnsley 2 - 0 Derby | |
| Bristol City 1 - 1 QPR | |
| Burnley 0 - 0 Plymouth | |
| Swansea 1 - 1 Sheff Wed | |
| Norwich 1 - 1 Birmingham | |
| Preston 2 - 1 Charlton | |
| Doncaster 1 - 0 Coventry | |
| Reading 4 - 2 Crystal Palace | |
| Wolverhampton 5 - 1 Nottm Forest | |
| Sheff Utd 0 - 0 Cardiff | |
| Southampton 0 - 1 Blackpool | |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Plymouth 0 - 1 Swansea | |
| Cardiff 2 - 2 Norwich | |
| QPR 2 - 0 Doncaster | |
| Blackpool 1 - 3 Sheff Utd | |
| Sheff Wed 1 - 1 Preston | |
| Crystal Palace 0 - 0 Burnley | |
| Ipswich 0 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Coventry 0 - 3 Bristol City | |
Top 6
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 | 10 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 4 | 10 |
| 3 | Birmingham City | 4 | 10 |
| 4 | Bristol City | 4 | 8 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 4 | 7 |
| 6 | Reading | 4 | 7 |
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