Savage price for poor performances

Mar 6 2008 Western Mail

FORMER Welsh international Robbie Savage made a major donation to charity – because his performances have not been up to standard.

Savage, captain of Derby County, donated £1,000 to When You Wish Upon A Star – a charity based in the Midlands that helps terminally children fulfil long-held ambitions. Youngsters who have benefited from the cash have swum with dolphins and met their favourite pop stars.

A source close to the footballer said, “Robbie feels that he hasn’t performed on the pitch and he feels he wants to give something back to the community.

“It was very much his choice.”

A spokeswoman for the charity said, “We are grateful to all of our supporters. We would like to thank the Derby County player for making the donation. The money will be used to help us grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.”

This is Savage’s second good deed in less than a week. On Saturday he picked up two Rams fans in his Mercedes as they stood at a bus stop on their way to Pride Park. He then gave them two tickets to the game against Sunderland.

Midfielder Savage, 33, took a pay cut when he joined Derby County for £1.5m from Blackburn Rovers in January. The former Wales international was made captain of the club by boss Paul Jewell shortly after he signed a two-and-a-half year deal.