Graham Dorrans: I never planned to leave Albion

Friday 23rd July 2010, 11:28AM BST.

Eddie Newton puts an arm round Graham Dorrans.
Eddie Newton puts an arm round Graham Dorrans.

Albion star Graham Dorrans today insisted he never  considered leaving The Hawthorns as he reflected on his new long-term contract.

The Scotland international ended speculation over a move to West Ham this week by penning a new four-year deal with a one-year option.

And the 23-year-old today claimed the three failed bids from the Hammers never diverted his focus from the new Premier League season with Albion.

“I am delighted that it’s sorted out and I can look forward to getting the season started,” he said.

“But my mind was always focused on starting the season here anyway because I was contracted here.

“The speculation doesn’t really have an effect. I was just coming in every day and concentrating on training like anyone else would have done.

“Until anyone mentioned anything to me that was all I could do. I was contracted to the club anyway.

“My mind was always here and I was always focused on coming in and training, getting fit and getting pre-season done.

“About a week or two before we went to Holland the new contract was basically agreed and it was just about getting the papers written up.

“The contract came over to Holland and I signed it while I was over there.”

Albion followed up Dorrans’ contract deal by securing midfield anchorman Youssouf Mulumbu on a new two-year deal with a one-year option.

And Dorrans is delighted to see his fellow midfielder commit his future to the Baggies after playing a vital role in the Scot’s attacking success last season.

Dorrans said: “Youssouf has been great and having him and Gonzalo Jara playing in behind me was great until Gonzo got his injury.

“They give me the licence to get forward and get on the ball and if I can’t make it back they are always there with that protection in behind me. So it’s good to have that licence.”


  1. 1
    baggie birder

    Can he make it any clearer you wolfies? top player great attitude and plays for a great club!

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  2. 2
    Hall Green Baggie

    Dorrans, Mulumbu and Jara; Brunt and Morrison; Thomas and Barnes… That’s a PL midfield.

    Still need that striker, and maybe a left-back. And a spare keeper. Please don’t sign any more midfielders!

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    jordao 1-0

    must get gonzo on better deal now also. don’t worry birder, the dings will turn their attention to RDM going to fulham, (he hasn’t commited himself to club)etc. not much chance of mad mick being lined up though, with his vast knowledge of the world game. still in pain from laughing at his juan sebastian “REVON” during the world cup. what a star, he’d probably try to sign peter mandelsons live in brazilian ‘friend’ Reinaldo. whatever RDM and our beloved baggies do next season, we’ll always have our witty, knowledgeable, distant neighbours to have their finger on the footballing pulse…

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  4. 4
    sid

    dear jeremy, a striker pllllleeeeaaasssssse!!!!!!

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  5. 5
    WHO R wba anyway?????????

    No 1 Seem to remember James Milner saying exactly the same thing at Villa last season.
    No 3. Glad you have at last come to terms with our excellent knowledge, wit and pure superiority.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    P.A.QuintonBaggie

    I`d rather have Jarvis,Henry,Guedioura,Jones,
    and Milijas, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Albion still need another decent striker for
    us to be sucessful and Iam sure the
    chairman will bring one in before the window
    closes.If the season started tomorrow I wouldnt be to worried as Di Matteo already has
    an 11 who could give Chelsea a good game.
    ———————————————-
    Scott Carson.

    Stephen Reid,Gabriel Tamas,Jonas Olsson,
    Gonzalo Jara.

    Giles Barnes,Graham Dorrans,Yousouff Mulumbu,
    James Morrison,Jerome Thomas.

    Roman Bednar.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    JACK the HAT.

    Well dingles, proved again how very little you lot know about all things football. When’s our head-coach going did you say. Now we know you’re all bonkers. The best thing you can do is start
    making your excuses for when you play our brilliant squad, so start polishing the bus.

    ~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  8. 8
    dazz

    where are the signings. everyone needs to get their head out of the clouds especially jeremy peace cos without signings relegation is a near certainty

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  9. 9
    CantelloRocket 78

    It seems that David Sullivan at West Ham is unhappy that clubs are interested in trying to sign Scott Parker,his best midfield player.He’s said Parker is under contract,is not for sale,so hands off,the approaches are not welcome.Does Graham Dorrans ring any bells Mr.Sullivan???

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  10. 10
    JACK the HAT.

    So Scotlands future captain stays with us likewise
    Mulumbu. O.K. dingles What did you say about R Di Matteo and Fulham?.

    ~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  11. 11
    baggieinmanc

    Great news about Dorrans. Up here evryone thought he’d sign for the Hammers but I could never see any reason for him to do that. They were in a relegation battle in an easier league last season stands to reason the same will apply this year.
    No.4 dazz
    Patience. If we don’t sign any strikers, goalkeeper and maybe defender/midfielder before the window closes then yes I think your right. But imagine your a Wolves fan.
    When all the big sides start to loan off all thier talented periferal players to adhere to squad regulations, would you want to be watchin the Baggies benefit when you’ve already blown your squad places and money on N’Daw, Van Damme, Hunt and Fletcher?
    They have spent the second most on transfers in the Premier on that lot and you recon our club is being run badly. No matter what you think about JP he’s not an idiot and I think the regulations may play to his strengths this time round.
    I’ve just read some of the Liverpool sites saying Ngog wants to stay there and wouldn’t want to come to the Baggies.
    I hope we shut down any interest immediately. We don’t want a sulky little boy rubbin our lads up the wrong way this season. He doesn’t even come with a decent goals to games ratio.
    RDM please go for Beattie he would fit perfectly into the side. He would probably be my only buy before the firesale.
    Boing Boing

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  12. 12
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    11 BIM.
    Spot on. We don’t want any players here that think they’re doing us a favour by turning out. I know they don’t feel the way we do about the club but let’s have more of the Yousuff Mulumbu attitude. The lad gives 100% every game and looks as if he doesn’t know any other way to play.

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