Tony The Terrible

Last updated : 26 May 2005 By @blades_mad1889

Rotherham United v Millwall (2004/05): Paul Ifill does battle with John Mullin.
The former Gillingham boss could only watch in anger as the Blades swooped for the two Midfielders whilst the Britannia Stadium club were powerless to stop the transfer for happening.

Ifill, who stoke had a 750k transfer turned down in January eventually signed for 50k more last week whilst Lilian Nalis another target for the Potteries joined on a free transfer. However it is believed the former Serie A player demanded a large salary.

Pulis commented that Stoke City would never be able to compete at that level of transfer and this is the reason why he has had to struggle with brining in players of this quality.

He said: "Sheffield United have just bought Ifill and Nalis like money's no object.

"Stoke couldn't have done those deals. It is frustrating, but it's a fact of life.

"I'd love to be like Neil Warnock and make two signings like that, but we've just got to manage the football club the way that we

TP: Tony Pulis
can afford to.

"It's always been pretty plain to me that this is the situation we are in.

"With no disrespect, we are in the lower echelons of this league when it comes to paying players."

Incidentally a good sign for the Blades is that Stoke City are also looking into the signing of Heidar Helgson from Watford.