The truth about Zoltan Gera's career at West Bromwich Albion has been lost in translation after contradictory and conflicting reports about the player's future from two of his own agents.
One intimated that the Hungarian, who is able to leave The Hawthorns in the summer for free, would plying his trade elsewhere next season, regardless of FA Cup success or promotion to the Premier League; the other said Gera's future at Albion depended on promotion and any interest from certain clubs.
Middlesbrough were the last to show an interest in the Hungary captain but his overseas agent has changed since that deal was a possibility in January 2007. His new representative, Vladan Filipovic, whose comments appeared in a Hungarian national newspaper, said: "Zoltan surely leaves the team at the end of the season.
"Some teams from the Premiership would like him but we don't adhere to England; there are interested sides from other countries as well. The main point is that he should get to a team which is involved either in the Champions League or in the Uefa Cup. Zoli's place should be in a European competition."
These comments contrasted sharply with what Gera's UK representative, Sam Stapleton, had to say yesterday. He suggested that their meaning had been poorly translated and said his client's Albion career hinged on the club getting promoted and, providing they did, so long as no top-six Premier League club came in.
The uncertainty is clearly not affecting Gera after his typically energetic display against Charlton Athletic on Friday night. He nearly won the game with a spectacular volley minutes from time but his effort hit the crossbar.
Manager Tony Mowbray got his players to form a huddle at the end of the game at The Valley and explained to them the importance of showing unity at this stage and a further commitment to the club's footballing principles.
He said: "Sometimes you need to show what you are all about and we wanted to show the fans that we are unified and together.
"Whether we get promotion or not, the bigger picture for us is improving individually and collectively and to play a style of football that will not be found wanting when we get to where we want to be. I think the correct way to play is to score goals and entertain people."
Albion managed just one effort on target in the first half, Kevin Phillips's great strike to draw the teams level, so by no stretch of the imagination did the Baggies "dominate the game from start to finish".
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Charlton's manager Alan Pardew also saw it differently. However, at times in the second half, Albion did exhibit a skill level and fluidity far superior to anything other teams in the division can muster and, as it turned out, the way results went this weekend, with Stoke City being held and Bristol City losing, it is undoubtedly a point that takes on more significance.
Few of the Baggies' rivals will go to The Valley and pick up similar rewards against a Charlton side as resilient as they were on Friday.
If there is any justice, Albion will win their games in hand and end up securing one of the coveted automatic promotion places for their footballing ethos alone but divine rights do not exist in a division filled with healthy dollops of competitiveness and starved of genuine quality.
Regardless of what happens, Mowbray believes his players will have the quality to either bounce back from a failure to get promoted, or to rise to the challenge if their season's ambitions are achieved.
He said: "I am a realist, I would suggest. "I think this league is very competitive and full of teams set up to stop other teams playing.
"It is a very abrasive league and it is hard to win matches. But it is important to try and win games in a manner which people want to come and watch."
