JON Newsome is ready to talk about turning his temporary stay with Wanderers into a permanent arrangement. The Sheffield Wednesday defender, whose centre-back partnership with fellow loan recruit Paul Warhurst has given Colin Todd's side a much more solid appearance, says he will be happy to join the Reebok ranks.
His loan deal is due to end after Saturday's home game against Portsmouth but the two clubs are already in transfer talks.
Wanderers are also exploring the possibility of securing Warhurst's transfer from Crystal Palace but the Newsome negotiations are at a more advanced stage with the player himself making it clear he would welcome a move across the Pennines.
"I came here on a month's loan for fitness and to get some games under my belt," the Sheffield-born six-footer explained, "but things have gone well, Colin Todd has expressed a wish to make it permanent and Danny Wilson (Wednesday's manager) has said if things can be sorted out, he'd agree to it. "I'm just basically sitting around waiting to hear from them. The ball's in their court. If they agree to a fee I've obviously got to start talking about my side of it."
Newsome turned in a fifth solid performance in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Tranmere, where Wanderers missed out on all three points when Rovers' skipper Kenny Irons equalised in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
It was a bitter blow and one which Newsome felt as deeply as any of his new team-mates.
"I hate losing and I love winning!" he said. "That's the way it is."
Newsome's performances have earned him instant respect from his team-mates and from the Wanderers' fans - a factor which has gone a long way to making him favour a move, despite his reluctance to leave Hillsborough. Would he be happy to come to Bolton? "Yes, definitely. I've spoken to Danny Wilson a couple of times and I think if he had his way he'd like me to stay at Sheffield Wednesday. But he understands my predicament.
"It's mid-December and I've played just one league game - against Wimbledon at full-back. He understands I really just want to play first team football.
"It's nice to be appreciated and welcomed by the fans. Things have gone well while I've been here. It was disappointing to concede that late goal on Saturday because we had good chances which normally we would have stuck in the back of the net. And the goal last week (at Wolves) was a bit doubtful. In 99 per cent of games the ref would have blown for a foul.
"But I've been pleased with the way things have gone for me and the team since I arrived."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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