West Ham United legend Tony Cottee has criticised the growing trend among today's highly paid Premiership players who conduct their transfers in public.
'As a Hammers fan myself, I was as disappointed as anyone to hear the comments from Frederic Kanoute on Sky Sports, saying he wants to join Fulham next season,' says Cottee, responding to the French Revolution that also includes Patrick Vieira's well publicised defection from London rivals Arsenal, who were also badly let down by Nicolas Anelka before him.
Cottee, who swapped his claret and blue hat and scarf on the old West Stand terraces in the late 70s for a place in the youth team and a meteoric rise to first team stardom at Upton Park, has nothing but sympathy for today's supporters.
He told the official club website: 'It does disturb me to see players like Fredi and Vieira talking of joining other clubs in such a public and blatant manner.
'Fans can respect the wishes of players who have ambition and want to join clubs who they think will consistently challenge for the biggest prizes, but the players concerned should keep their thoughts to themselves - and leave the talking to their agents.
'I don't know what really happened in Fredi's case. It could be that someone at Sky contacted him while he was away on holiday and caught him a bit off guard. Maybe he didn't realise the full implications of what he was saying to their reporter.
'That tends to happen more often where foreign players are concerned, because they don't seem to appreciate the possible ramifications of what they're saying. That happened recently with Paolo Di Canio, who said a few well-intended things but some of them came out the wrong way. At least I hope that was the case here with Fredi.
'But the fact is, West Ham fans don't want to read or hear the kind of comments he made. He should learn a lesson from this and be more tactful and sensible in future.
'And the fans certainly don't want to see quality players like Kanoute leave. Glenn Roeder obviously feels that way, too, and I really hope that Fredi's situation is sorted out soon and that he is happy to stay and continue to progress at West Ham.'
Hammers MD Paul Aldridge earlier described the reported £8 million bid for Kanoute by Premiership newcomers Fulham as 'laughable'.
And Cottee, who cost a then British transfer record £2.05m when he left West Ham to join Everton in the summer of 1988, agrees that Fulham, or any other club, should have to pay millions more before they prise the French striker away from Upton Park.
Cottee says: 'Fredi was our top scorer last season and his valuation must reflect that. I know Glenn and West Ham will do all they can to keep him, and hopefully we will, but if he does really want to leave he should cost at least £10 million.
'Considering Harry Redknapp signed him for £3.6m a year ago, that would represent very good business by the club.'
But didn't we receive £11m for a midfielder, Frank Lampard, from Chelsea, just days ago?
'Yeah, you've got a point there. Strikers usually fetch more money than goalscoring midfielders so, compared to Frank's fee, perhaps West Ham should expect more for Kanoute, who is only 23-years-old and has a bright future.'
And what of TC's future? The 35-year-old ended last season on loan at Millwall, after his first taste of management ended abruptly at Barnet. Hammers fans will be pleased to know that he will not be going back to the New Den and is currently considering his next move.
'I've got three or four options,' explains Tony. 'The offer from Cheltenham has been reported but I've also been approached by a second division club and two local non-league clubs.
'They would all involve playing, but not coaching, and I'm still unsure which way to turn. There is also the prospect of doing more media work, on TV and radio, plus some writing, which I always enjoy, so my future could take a variety of routes.'
Cottee has always maintained that it is his dream to one day come back to West Ham as manager of the first team. Even though there has been no contact between him and Glenn Roeder, you get the feeling that it wouldn't take much for his beloved Hammers to entice TC back 'home' in some kind of coaching role . . .