Browse Sections

• Stockport County FC
• Sale Sharks
• Local football
• Local cricket

Slow progress

Simon Smedley
25/ 6/2008

RIGHT full-back Johnny Mullins has been drafted in from Mansfield Town, but other than that negotiations and discussions are continuing with a number of County targets.

Mullins, last season’s Player of the Year at Field Mill, has joined the Hatters on a two-year deal [see Stockport Express for more], but County’s managing director Mark Maguire is confident that there will be more transfer activity during the coming week to 10 days.

Maguire said: "We’ve got a number of ongoing situations at present. We’ve made formal enquiries about two goalkeepers and we’re still waiting to hear back at this stage. We’ve made a substantial offer for one of those goalkeepers. The ball is very much in the court of the people concerned.

"There’s still a few pieces of the jigsaw to fit together, we’ve made plenty of enquiries.Including the goalkeepers, we’ve enquired about three or four players, but they are still very much at the discussion and negotiation stage. I would say a busy week to 10 days is in store, particularly once Jim Gannon returns from holiday, some exciting moves are set to be made I feel."

The bid to re-sign Chester City winger Kevin Ellison is still very much on also, according to Maguire.

Ellison and Chester manager Simon Davies have both been away on holiday, but County boss Gannon is set to meet Ellison and his agent again next week.

"There are no issues with our move for Kevin," added Maguire. "He still wants to come to County, a fee has been agreed with Chester, so that deal should be brought to a conclusion very soon."

Cash-strapped Chester have been hit with a transfer embargo by the Football League, but that only affects their intentions to bring new players in. Players wanting to leave the Deva Stadium are not affected.

Meanwhile, one player looking increasingly likely to be leaving Edgeley Park now is right-back Jamie Smith.

Smith, whose County contract was up for renewal this summer, was offered a new deal, only for it to be turned down by the player’s agent.

County chiefs then refused to meet Smith’s subsequent demands.

MD Maguire said: "There have been negotiations with Jamie and his agent, but seeing as he turned down our initial offer it now seems unlikely that there will be room in the squad for him now. With us signing Johnny Mullins now and assuming that he will be the first choice right-back, maybe Jamie just doesn’t want to be a squad player at County."

Gannon and his assistant Peter Ward return for pre-season training on Monday, then the first-team squad follow suit on Tuesday.