Experienced striker James Scowcroft is currently looking for a new club and a fresh challenge after being released by Crystal Palace.
The 33-year-old former England Under 21 international began his career at
Ipswich Town, making over 200 appearances for the Tractor Boys before a £3 million move to
Leicester at the start of the 2000-01 season.
Scowcroft, who can also play in a wide midfield role, has been linked with a switch to both
West Brom and
Plymouth since his departure from
Palace, but as yet nothing has been agreed.
Givemefootball’s Mark Shail spoke exclusively to Scowcroft in the build-up to the new campaign.
Q: Have you had much contact with clubs over the summer?
A: I’ve spoken to a few clubs recently and things are starting to move forward now. Nothing has been sorted out yet so I’d like to tie things down as quickly as possible. It’s been a pretty quiet summer but hopefully there will be some developments in the next week or so.
Q: Have you been in this situation before when you have been out of contract at this relatively late stage of the summer?
A: It’s happened to me once before and obviously it’s an unsettling time because you’re in the game but without a club – if you know what I mean. It’s an insecure time but that is what happens now in modern day football and it’s a question of waiting to see what comes up.
Q: Do you have any preference in terms of the location of your next club?
A: No not really, I’d be prepared to go to all four corners of the country if it is the right move for me. I’ve travelled all over the country to play for various clubs during my career so the geography isn’t really an issue.
Q: You've had a fairly injury-free career, there should be plenty more miles on the clock?
A: Yes I’ve been fairly lucky, although last season I did have a nasty hamstring problem which is the reason why I didn’t play many games. But for the five or six previous years I barely missed a match. I’ve been working very hard on my fitness over the summer and feel as strong as I have done for a number of years. I honestly believe I’ve got another three or four years left in me.
Q: Were you disappointed to leave Palace?
A: I was disappointed because it’s a good club and I enjoyed my time there, but these things happen and it’s time to move on.
They should do pretty well next season although the Championship is always a hard division to predict – you only have to look at big clubs like
Charlton,
Southampton and
Norwich being relegated and a team with a small budget like
Burnley winning promotion.
James can be contacted via the PFA, and for information about other released players check out the Transfer Directory on Givemefootball.
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