Town in wait for extra Hart money

Shrewsbury Town will have to play a waiting game to receive the final £500,000 payment for Joe Hart's big-money move to Manchester City.Chairman Roland Wycherley today confirmed Town will receive the final third of the £1.5m transfer which took Hart from Shrewsbury to the Premiership in May 2006 when the highly-rated goalkeeper begins a competitive game for England.

Supporters had initially hoped Hart's appearance as a second half substitute in last month's friendly against Trinidad & Tobago would trigger the clause.

But negotiations between the clubs have confirmed Hart must make a competitive England start for Shrewsbury to receive the additional money.

They have already received an initial £600,000, and part of the £400,000 they will earn during the former Meole Brace School pupil's first 80 appearances for City.

"As all Shrewsbury Town fans know, Joe Hart recently achieved his first England senior squad cap," read the statement from Wycherley today.

"That's clearly fantastic news for Joe and also reflects very well on Shrewsbury Town where he started what promises to be a glittering career.

"Inevitably the appearance led to a great deal of speculation. So, in the light of ongoing interest, we believe it helpful to clarify the background to Joe's Manchester City transfer.

"Joe's move involved a substantial up front payment, fees for first team appearances and a one-off payment for appearing in the England senior squad.

"In line with this, the club has received the up-front payment and is continuing to collect the appearance fees.

"Joe's 45 minutes for England also moves us an important step closer to receiving that element of the agreement.

"But this won't actually be triggered until the player makes his first full competitive international appearance for England chosen in the first eleven."

Wycherley added: "As I negotiated the deal, I was obviously aware of its content

"But I also thought it eminently sensible to contact Manchester City to discuss Joe's appearance as there had been a lot of changes there and sometimes interpretations can differ - as FIFA's debate about the status of the same game highlights.

"In the event, everyone's interpretation is the same, so we will need to continue watching England selections with extra interest.

"Transfer agreements like this are always complex and it's seldom appropriate to spell out the detail in public.

"However, in this case, the speculation has been so intense that I wanted our fans to have the facts.

"At a time when we are busily negotiating transfers in and out of the club, it's also important to ensure that players and agents don't get a misleading view of our resources.

"Overall, we ought to be careful that this clarification doesn't take anything away from Joe's great achievement and the significant role our Club has played in his career to date."

By James Garrison