Date of Birth: 17 05 1978
Place of Birth: Halifax
Position: Goalkeeper
Nationality: Ireland
International Caps 5
International Goals 0
Paddy Kenny Rumours and Transfers
07 08 2007
Bryan Robson has taken out more goalkeeping insurance by bringing back Paul Gerrard.
The experienced 'keeper was with the Blades last season and then released in May however Robson has moved to re-sign him and so provide back up to Paddy Kenny and Ian Bennett.
Gerrard joined United from Forest initially on a short term deal before signing for the Premier League season.
He played twice in the Premier League and made one cup appearance last season.
Bennett played part of last night's game at Stocksbridge PS which the Blades won 4-0.
The team included Ahmed Fathi, Geoff Horsfield, Luton Shelton and Nicky Law.
Shelton scored twice, and Horsfield and Law the others.
26 07 2007
Trinidad and Tobago National Team goalie Jan Michael Williams was offered a deal by English Championship Division club Sheffield United and expects to sign with the team early next month subject to a work permit approval.
Williams, the 22 year old custodian of W Connection, returned from England Monday, all smiles after learning from Sheffield head coach Bryan Robson that he would like to sign him to the club and was confident that he will secure the necessary paperwork to go through with the deal.
The former St Anthony's College player spent nineteen days on trial at the club after undergoing a previous trial in Hungary with Ujpest FC. He was subsequently offered a deal by Ujpest however requested time to make a decision due to the Sheffield trial. The Hungarian club allowed Williams up to July 11 due to their transfer deadline and things turned uncertain after the player suffered an ankle injury 2 days into his trial with Sheffield. However, persistence and faith paid off.
'The experience in Hungary was good. I did well enough and the President and Head coach would like me to sign. They offered the deal however I would like to go to England and nothing was going to stop me. However, then I got injured on the 2nd day at Sheffield and had to do rehab for the next 8 days and the deadline for the Hungary deal came up. That definitely had to be one of the hardest decisions in my career having to turn down the deal however I kept faith and it so turned out I did well enough after recuperating and Sheffield made the offer in the end,' Williams mentioned Tuesday.
He added that doctors informed him it would take 8 days before he would resume the trial and the team physio worked feverishly to get him well again and he in the end resumed light training on July 11.
'The rehab there is 10 times more intensive than normal training because I spent up to 6 hours day working on getting back well, however it was worth it.'
Sheffield requested that Williams spend an extra week and goalie coach Andy Leaning relayed to him that the club had seen his performances against Guatemala and U.S at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and were impressed. Robson, the former England captain, signed on as head coach in May taking over from Neil Warnock whilst assistant manager Brian Kidd has a rich history, having worked as assistants to Sven Goran Eriksson with the England team and Alex Ferguson at Man Utd
'He (Leaning) mentioned they saw the games and were interested in me. They kept me for an extra week and when I in the end resumed the trial I conceded the most amount of goals ever in a small sided game.' Williams laughed.
'But then I played a full trial game and did my part. We won 2-0 and the manager and the president mentioned well done however I still was not sure until the receptionist at the hotel informed me next morning that I was all over the back page of the newspaper and Robson had made some good comments about me. After my agent gave me the news on the phone, he (Robson) and the chairman then spoke to me and made the offer and mentioned they hoped to me get back up to the club in the quickest probable time once the permit came though. They mentioned that they would find the necessary solution to ensure they sign me,' an excited Williams added. Sheffield has Ireland international Paddy Kenny and Ian Bennett as 2 other 1st team goalies
Currently terms and conditions of the contract are being worked out. Williams added that Spann left for Sunderland earlier this month after playing one game during his trial at Sheffield.
'I think the Pro League is of a good standard. It could not be as high as the Premier League or the Championship Division however it helped have given me this opportunity to make it to the next level. I heard about the trial at Sheffield since last year however my aim was to get the caps and maintain my place in the National team and I did only that and I am grateful for that opportunity. Now hopefully I can continue to use this new experience as a way of bettering myself as a goalie and an overall professional,' stated Williams who has 18 appearances for T&T and was also the number 2 goalie for T&T at the 2001 FIFA Under 17 World Championship.
24 07 2007
Sheffield United keeper Paddy Kenny and midfielder Nick Montgomery have agreed new deals with the club, reports BBC Radio Sheffield.
Both players have committed themselves to the Blades until 2010.
The news comes a day after former Blade Rob Kozluk claimed there is unrest at the club because they were taking too long to negotiate players' contracts.
Meanwhile United confirm they have made an initial enquiry about Newry City captain Richard Clarke.
The N. Ireland U21 midfielder is also attracting interest from Rangers, along with League One Gillingham and League 2 Bury.
22 06 2007
Sheffield United have played down rumours saying Paddy Kenny is unhappy at Bramall Lane and would like to quit the club.
The Republic of Ireland international goalie was linked with a transfer to Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland following the Blades' relegation to the Championship.
Kenny's agent also suggested his client would leave, should the club fail to open negotiations on a new contract.
But United chairman Terry Robinson has has denied the says that by revealing he has already held talks on a new deal with the former Bury keeper.
"2 or 3 weeks ago both parties met up for discussions," he informed the club's official website.
"They had taken place and at this moment we have no further comment to make."
Kenny, 28, has made more than 200 appearances in 5 seasons with the Blades.
19 06 2007
Jussi Jaaskelainen's agent says the Bolton goalie is upset at how contract talks are progressing, however denied he would like £60,000 a week.
Jaaskelainen has one year left on his current contract and last week discarded a new deal at the Reebok Stadium, sparking interest from Sunderland, Man Utd and Villa.
It was later reported the Finnish stopper had demanded to become Bolton's 2nd highest paid player behind Nicolas Anelka, however agent Peter Harrison denied the claims.
"He has not asked for that," Harrison informed the Manchester Evening News.
"And I have not asked anything like £60,000-a week for him. Even if he signed the new deal Bolton have offered, it still would not put him among the highest paid players at the club. It is only a shame he's being treated like this."
Potential suitors could be put off by Bolton's asking price of between £4 million and £5 million, which Trotters manager Sammy Lee would would like to fund a bid for Sheffield United's Paddy Kenny or Liverpool's Scott Carson as a replacement for Jaaskelainen.
