Barry's Beef

When he heard a bigger club were interested in him, Bullard hadn't expected it to be Fulham

Jimmy Bullard, midfield dynamo of Wigan Athletic has started talks with Fulham about a Summer move to Craven Cottage. It becomes very clear that Wigan manager, Paul Jewell does not want Bullard to go saying Bullard's departure would be a massive blow but that his hands were tied by a Minimum Fee release clause in Bullard's contract.
With Paul Jewell implying Bullard has been influenced by an ambitious agent: "People will ask us questions about why this clause is in the contract but we didn't want to put it in. He was out of contract this year and insisted, well his agent said, if he was going to sign a new deal, there had to be a clause in it." Film buffs would have already recognised the chilling similarity to Tommy 'Machine' Gunn in Rocky V.
If true, which in all probability it is or isn't, wouldn't be the first time Bullard's been in the news thanks to his agent, for Eastend born Bullard was rumoured to be in contention for the German World Cup squad. Eligible through his German grandmother (not his Cockney one). He contacted Jurgen Klinsmann, the German coach and told him of his availability to which Klinsmann presumably replied: "Wer bist du?" unless he keeps a close eye on Wigan.
Whilst researching (a very low form of research) this article I came across two wonderful quotes. The first from Jimmy Bullard himself a full 40 days ago:
"I signed a three-year contract in the summer and I am enjoying every minute of it."
and the second from Fulham manager Chris Coleman, a great example of football talk:
"Jimmy is a very good player and I don't think Wigan want to let him go. If a player wants to leave then it's difficult to hold on to him, although I'm not saying Jimmy wants to leave." Methinks you are.
Not quite sure why he wants to go to perennial relegation possibles Fulham. Probably because he's London born - it's a funny old game.