3/10/00 - City put Tucker up for transfer

Manager John Barton decided to list the 28-year-old by "mutual agreement" following discussions with the player.

However, City will not require a fee for Tucker even though he remains under contract until the end of next season.

Tucker, previously with Fulham, Woking and Rushden and Diamonds, joined City from Kettering Town last season when former boss Graham Allner was in charge, and he formed a dominant central defensive partnership with Martin Weir.

But he hasn't hit his best form this season and was not even among the substitutes for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Cirencester -- which at least means he is not cup-tied.

With Chris Greenman returning on Saturday after a 10-month injury absence, Barton may feel that Tucker's impending departure will help free his hands financially.

Barton said: "There is nothing sinister behind it, we are just being honest with each other.

"It just hasn't worked out against some of the circumstances that we have to take notice of.

"Geographically, coming from Northampton is a time-consuming exercise on his own.

"He doesn't leave work until 5.30 which makes getting to training quite stressful, and on top of that his wife is expecting another child.

"I don't think Mark has played as well as he can recently. You have to say that as much as he wants to do well, these sort of aspects make the job very, very difficult."

Meanwhile, Barton has admitted he knows nothing about City's next FA Cup opponents Thatcham Town.

The Wessex League side visit St George's Lane in the third qualifying round on October 14, and Barton said: "What we need to do is pick them up as quickly as possible and have them watched.

"It is a home draw and I don't suppose we can ask for much more than that. How they view the draw I don't know, but we will have to say it represents a great opportunity to get into the next round."

City have arranged their Worcestershire Senior Cup first round home clash with Halesowen Town for Monday, October 30 (7.45).