March 8 2004

Darren Powell

DARREN POWELL's transfer to Reading has been delayed after the defender failed a medical on Friday.

Reading were due to sign the 27-year-old for a fee of around £200,000 this week but tests showed he has still not recovered from his thigh injury.

Boss Steve Coppell said: "When we agreed a deal I thought he was very close to being fit, but from the medical on Friday we estimate he’s still some way off.

"Because of that it's hard to do a proper medical so that signing is just on hold until we can get a medical grip on his situation.

"I feel responsible as it's a lot of money for Reading. I don't want it to be wasted. I still want to do the deal and I’m not backing out, but the move has just been delayed.

"It's an injury to his kicking muscle and you have to be careful with them. He's tweaked it and is nowhere near fit."