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Page last updated at 12:49 GMT, Saturday, 20 June 2009 13:49 UK

Dobbie's plea to striker Scotland

Jason Scotland
Jason Scotland has been Swansea's top-scorer for the past two seasons

Stephen Dobbie has pleaded with Jason Scotland to reject a Premier League move and form a formidable front-line partnership with him at Swansea City.

The Championship club have received a seven-figure bid from newly-promoted Burnley for Swansea's top-scorer while Wigan Athletic are also "interested."

Scottish striker Dobbie was signed in the hope of forming a potent double-act with 24-goal Scotland at The Liberty.

"I would like him to stay, said Dobbie, Swansea's only signing this summer.

Scotland is rated at least £3m by Swansea and although Burnley's offer is undisclosed, it "is in excess of £1m" according to Scotland's agent Mike Berry.

Swans chairman Huw Jenkins has rejected the offer, insisting the players' valuation between the two clubs are "miles apart."

The Trinidad and Tobago frontman clearly impressed Clarets boss Owen Coyle when Coyle was his manager at St Johnstone when Scotland scored 39 goals in 72 games in all compactions for the Scottish side.

Roberto Martinez signed Scotland for Swansea for a cut-price£25,000 in the summer of 2007 and the top-scorer's 24 league goals - 29 in all competitions - fired the Swans to the League One crown in his first season in South Wales.

Scotland's 23 league goals in the Championship last season - third in the division's hotshots list - inspired the Liberty Stadium club to the brink of a play-off spot before the Swans finished in eighth position.

Queen of the South striker Stephen Dobbie
It's important we don't lose our better players - and the fans don't want to see the star players leaving

Swansea City striker Stephen Dobbie

Now, according to Berry, Martinez wants to take Scotland with him to Wigan after the Spaniard ended two-and-a-half years at Swansea to replace Steve Bruce as boss at the JJB Stadium.

Scotland has scored 53 goals in 105 games in all competitions in his two seasons at Swansea, but Berry says Scotland hopes the Swans seriously consider the offer as Scotland wants to play in the top-flight.

But Dobbie, signed on a free after his 23-goals for Queen of the South last term, said: "It's important we don't lose our better players.

"And the fans don't want to see the star players leaving.

"I know Jason well from playing against him in Scotland has done really well at Swansea.

"Seeing him do well is another reason why I came down to Wales as Jason came from Scotland and has done well in the Championship and now I hope to be a similar success.

"Jason has great pace, is a powerful striker with two good feet and with his amount of goals he scored last season he is going to get noticed by other clubs.

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"Strikers are paid to score goals, as well as helping the team wins, and if you do that well you're going to have bigger teams looking at you and means you're doing you're job."

New Swansea manager Paulo Sousa's first job when he officially takes over at the Liberty Stadium will be to persuade the club's star players to stay.

Sousa, who has "verbally agreed" to be Swansea's new boss, will have to tell potential top-flight targets such as Scotland, full-back Angel Rangel and midfielder Ferrie Bodde why they should remain at the Liberty Stadium for his managerial reign.

Dobbie was signed by Martinez but his first game for Swansea will be under former Portugal international Sousa.

And he said: "The manager will probably want to add his own players and if he can't keep the current players here then that's the way football is."



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see also
Burnley bid for striker Scotland
19 Jun 09 |  Swansea
Wigan capture Gomez from Espanyol
19 Jun 09 |  Wigan
Sousa offered Swans manager's job
18 Jun 09 |  Swansea
Martinez promises no Swansea raid
17 Jun 09 |  Wigan
Swansea chief fears player loss
09 Jun 09 |  Swansea
Swansea finalise Dobbie signing
22 May 09 |  Swansea
Scotland earns Martinez plaudits
28 Apr 09 |  Swansea
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales


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