Powell in line to plug the gap
DERBY County manager Paul Jewell has turned to former Southampton and Crystal Palace defender Darren Powell in a bid to increase his options at the back.
The 32-year-old centre-back trained with the Rams yesterday and is expected to sign for the club today.
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Paul Jewell
Powell was released by Southampton in July and is currently without a club, so he is a free agent.
That means he can join a team outside the transfer window.
The London-born player has been training with Charlton Athletic this season and featured in a reserve team game against Crystal Palace on Monday night, in which he played an hour before being forced off with a head injury.
It is understood the Addicks have offered him a deal but Derby are look set to land the 6ft 3in stopper.
Jewell has been looking to bring in defensive cover following injuries to first-choice duo Martin Albrechtsen (calf) and Dean Leacock (groin).
Both players missed Saturday's 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday and are major doubts for Saturday's Championship match against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Their replacements, Claude Davis and Lewin Nyatanga, are both on international duty this week with Jamaica and Wales respectively, leaving Jewell crossing his fingers that they return to Moor Farm unscathed.
The recruitment of Powell would ease this burden somewhat, although he has not played a first-team game since the beginning on May.
After starting out with Hampton and Richmond Borough, Powell began his professional career with Brentford, where he made 150 appearances.
He was snapped up by Palace for £400,000 in August 2002 and went on to play 71 times for the Selhurst Park club.
Following a loan spell with West Ham United, Powell moved to Southampton on a Bosman free transfer in July 2005.
He made 49 appearances for the Saints, some of them as captain, before his release this summer following the arrival of head coach Jan Poortvliet at St Mary's.
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by Palimpsest, Derby
Thursday, November 20 2008, 3:50PM
“Anyone used to listen to Danny Baker when he used to have his Saturday moring show on Radio 1/Radio 2? He used have a sidekick, Danny Kelly, who went through the morning papers and, upon finding a photo of someone looking particularly none-plussed, confused or dazed, would write the word 'TURMOIL' across their forehead - much to the amusement of Danny Baker who would then be almost unable to speak for a while due to his guffaws. The photo of Paul Jewell at the head of this piece put me in mind of it for some reason...”
by Palimpsest., Derby
Thursday, November 20 2008, 3:43PM
“John - you can make permanent signings outside the transfer window as long as the player is a free agent (ie unemployed) as is the case with Powell.”
by John, Miles for Captain!
Thursday, November 20 2008, 3:37PM
“"More free transfer rubbish!" - Connolly was free, Paul Green was free, Jordan Stewart was free, Kris Commons was free, Albrechsten was free - Are they all rubbish too? It would also be a little difficult to obtain anything other than a free transfer at this moment in time as it is seemingly impossible for us to get a loan and we are not allowed to sign anyone permanently as it is NOT A TRANSFER WINDOW!!”
by John, Miles for Captain!
Thursday, November 20 2008, 3:33PM
“Paul did you not read the headline?? Powell in line to plug the gap.. Need I say anymore? He is hardly a Terry or Ferdinand, however, he is merely here to plug a gap!! Do you understand what that means? That means he is emergency cover! He will more than likely be our number four or five centreback with Albrechsten, Leacock, Davis and Nyatanga. Calm yourself down! DARREN POWELL IS A RAM!”
by paul, derby
Thursday, November 20 2008, 3:13PM
“more free transfer rubbish he has been without a club for ages makes you wonder why trust derby to take him he will probably get a 4 year deal what a joke signing.”
by tangle foot, dont feed the troll
Thursday, November 20 2008, 1:22PM
“I tried earlier to relate to the story post of 09.25. A couple more days he will be banned again normal service can then resume.”
by rambelina, rambelina
Thursday, November 20 2008, 1:11PM
“Why is it that the re-emergence of the stupid one on this site lets it descend into nothingness? There's little relevance to the story or indeed to Derby County in much of this. Ignore the buffoon and it will go away”
by John, Miles for Captain!
Thursday, November 20 2008, 12:45PM
“Darren Powell is a RAM!”
by tangle foot, come on claude
Thursday, November 20 2008, 12:16PM
“Claude helped to keep a clean sheet again for jamacia,should be good for his confidence.”
by in off, the red
Thursday, November 20 2008, 12:13PM
“Hector/chad/trev/ridics
WHO IS THIS O.G THAT TOPS THE FOREST GOAL SCORERS.”