Joey Beauchamp has spoken of his amazement at Nottingham Forest's decision not to sign him for medical reasons.
In an exclusive interview with the Oxford Mail, Beauchamp said he felt "gutted" by missing out on the chance of appearing on the Premiership stage.
Forest seemed set to sign Beauchamp last Friday after the clubs had agreed an £800,000 fee, but they pulled out just hours after putting the 27-old winger through a series of medical tests, claiming he had back and toe problems.
"I'm as fit as a fiddle," Beauchamp blasted. "I'm one of the fittest lads here and I've hardly missed a game in my whole career, so the whole thing's ridiculous.
"My playing record is second to none. I must have one of the best appearance records in football.
"If you look back over my career I've hardly missed a game. I can't ever remember missing consecutive games in my career."
He said: "The first thing they wanted me to do when I got to Forest was see the doctor. When he asked me to touch my toes I admit I was a bit stiff in my back, but it wasn't anything serious.
"The MRI scan I had may have shown up some slight wear on my back, but when Oxford signed me there was slight wear on my back. Everybody's got back problems of some sort. "I should think 89 per cent of pros have got some sort of back problem.
"We all go to see the chiropractor about it, but I've not missed any training because of my back and I've not missed a match because of it.
"There's been a slight inflammation of the small bones on the side of my foot and I've had odd injections for that, but it's just to make sure it doesn't swell up.
"I don't miss training through it and I haven't missed a game through it and I'm sure I won't miss any games through it.
"Everyone has some small thing wrong with them, but these are not career-threatening injuries. Career-threatening injuries are knees or where you've had a major operation.
"I've never had an operation of any kind and I've never broken a bone of any kind." The only thing I've ever had has been a slight bruise on the ankle, but everyone gets the odd knocks in games. Joey spoke of his shock at hearing Forest's decision. "I came back to Oxford on the Friday and they said they'd talk to me in the morning to ask me back to discuss personal terms. But then we heard it was off.
"I think they must be very strict on the fitness of new signings, maybe because they're a plc and they have to show their shareholders that they don't take any risks at all.
"Obviously I was gutted because I thought this could be my chance of joining a Premiership club."
It's believed Beauchamp's agent tried to find out if Fulham were still keen on signing the player, but since their bid for him they have snapped up the Republic of Ireland B international Steve Finnan from Notts County. "My agent said there might be a chance of the Fulham move again, but they've signed someone since," he said. United manager Malcolm Shotton confirmed: "We've been told by Fulham that Kevin Keegan won't resurrect it. If Joey's agent wants to resurrect it, that's up to him, but they've signed Finnan since." On Beauchamp's comment that he felt he had let people down because the Forest move had collapsed, United manager Malcolm Shotton replied: "Joey's now got to go out on the park and do it there, that's how he can pay us back.
"If he can go out there on Saturday and score a few goals that's how he can repay the club."
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article