A report in a Sunday tabloid yesterday suggested that Posh owner Darragh MacAnthony is so affected by the credit crunch, he was going to have to sell Mclean on the cheap. Mclean handed in a transfer request after Posh rejected two million-pound bids from Wolves for a striker who scored 33 goals last term.
But the story has provoked an angry reaction from MacAnthony and from the club's Director of Football Barry Fry. MacAnthony today announced his intention to sue for libel.
MacAnthony, who made his fortune in overseas property, said: "I read the story and it made me wonder why I bother.
"I turned down £2 million up front for this player 10 days ago and now apparently I need the money and will even take less!
"My lawyers were today demanding an apology and damages for libel. I'd love to know the source of this rubbish and if it has come from certain agents or a certain Championship club, all hell shall break loose.
"Rubbish like this in the media puts doubt in the minds of my clients and my many employees.
"It's incredibly irresponsible journalism which is nothing new in my life, but it makes me more determined and more focussed and determined to prove people wrong.
"I have just spent £200,000 on Sergio Torres and £50,000 on taking the team away to Spain for a week which hardly backs up the story in the paper.
"Nor does the fact that I have just taken delivery of an SLR McLaren convertible which set me back $1 million.
"I like to think this so-called credit crunch is a re-adjustment period which should be old news by 2009."
Fry was so furious with the story he has already banned Mclean's agent from London Road and told him the club will never do business with him again.
Fry said: "There is a dirty tricks campaign going on and it stinks. It's a blatant attempt to force us to sell a player we don't want to sell, but it won't work.
"In fact it is more likely to push the price up rather than force it down.
"We don't have to sell anyone because the chairman continues to back us to the hilt.
Continues on next pagePosh completed their summer training camp in Marbella with a 3-1 friendly win over Rochdale on Saturday night.The full article contains 426 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
