United Miss Out On £700,000 Prize

£700,000..... that`s how much money Dundee United have missed out on, after Motherwell snapped up striker Chris Porter this week.

It looked like the highly rated 23-year-old was close to signing for Dundee United last week, but manager Craig Levein pulled the plug on the deal, after Porter`s indecisiveness over the move.

Dundee United set Porter a decision-deadline last week but when no answer was forthcoming, Levein assumed the player wasn`t fully committed to a move to Scotland.

Levein told the Scotsman last week, "We set a deadline for a decision from him, but the lad couldn`t make up his mind so we pulled the plug."

"He would have liked more time, but I want people who are desperate to come to this club and be part of what we are trying to do."

It didn`t cost Motherwell a single penny to sign the Oldham Athletic player, because the Steelmen exploited a loophole which allows under-24 year old players to move to another country for no fee.

Oldham are extremely disappointed at losing Porter to Motherwell, because they expected to receive around £700,000 if he signed for another English club - with Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City both rumoured to be interested.

Although, Porter appears happy with his new club, because it means he will be moving closer to his family.

"I just preferred Motherwell to be honest, no disrespect to any of the people at Dundee," Porter told the Evening Telegraph yesterday.

"It was a couple of hours further away for me and I like the fact I can shoot home when I want to. Motherwell is just over two hours away."