Pompey Join the hunt for Alan Smith
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is trying to hijack Newcastle’s move for Alan Smith.
Redknapp is lining up a £3.5 million bid for the Manchester United striker after being priced out of moves for Preston’s David Nugent and Middlesbrough’s Yakubu.
Boro are interested in the England player, too, and Redknapp said: “Alan is fantastic value at the money United are asking.”
Other news
Wolves legend Dougan dies aged 69
Derek Dougan made 43 appearances for Northern Ireland
Former Northern Ireland and Wolves forward Derek Dougan has died, aged 69.
Nicknamed the Doog, he will be remembered as one of the great characters of the game, as well as being a very effective centre-forward.
Dougan scored over 120 goals for Wolverhampton Wanderers and was in their victorious 1974 League Cup side.
He won 43 international caps and before joining Wolves played for Portsmouth, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Peterborough United and Leicester City.
Dougan was also an outspoken chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association.
RIP Derek Dougan. He was one of a rare breed
Born in Belfast in January 1938, he played for Irish League club Distillery before joining Portsmouth.
He remained at Fratton Park until March 1959 when he transferred to Blackburn Rovers for £15,000.
He spent two-and-a-half years at Ewood Park before signing for Aston Villa in July 1961. Two years later Dougan was off again, this time to Peterborough United.
In the summer of 1966, he switched to another club, Leicester City, before securing his place with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1967.
Derek Dougan played in the 1974 League Cup final at Wembley
In just over eight seasons at the Molineux, Derek made 320 first team appearances for Wolves netting over 120 goals.
He helped the club regain get back to the First Division status in 1967 and played when they beat Manchester City in the 1974 League Cup final.
Dougan made his Northern Ireland debut against Czechoslovakia during the 1958 World Cup in Sweden and his latest international appearance was in 1973.
During his time with Northern Ireland, he struck up a partnership with George Best.
In December 2005, Dougan joined other former Northern Ireland team-mates in carrying the coffin at Best’s funeral
