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Baker jets in

Simon Smedley
23/ 7/2008

COUNTY splashed the cash once again yesterday [Tues] as they paid another huge six-figure fee for Morecambe midfielder Carl Baker.

Baker finally made the switch to Edgeley Park after the Hatters had earlier seen three bids turned down by the Morecambe board.

Baker has signed a three-year deal as County paid £175,000 for his services. That figure could rise to £225,000 dependant on appearances.

Hatters boss Jim Gannon is delighted with his latest big-money capture, now that the new League One campaign is just over a fortnight away.

He told the Express: "When I assessed my squad at the end of last season I said I just needed more goals and more consistent creativity from the midfield.

"Now Peter Thompson will get the goals and Carl Baker is a player who can bring the creativity.

"It has been a slow process to get where we are now.

"Carl had to have a long chat with [Morecambe manager] Sammy McIlroy about where he wanted to go in his career, and ultimately it’s led to him joining us now.

"Carl is a player I admired last season. I thought he was the outstanding player on view when we played them at their ground. We lost 2-0 and he scored both goals.

"At the home game we tried to nullify him as best we could.

"There were only two players in League Two last season who we felt, if we could stop them, we would stop their team.

"They were Carl and Keith Andrews at MK Dons.

"I’m really excited to have signed Carl. I think he’ll bring that central attacking midfield role to life, but he’s also capable of playing in a number of other positions, both on the left, the right, and up front.

"He’ll be another valuable addition to our squad.

"Carl’s excited too. He’s not long out of non-league, and despite his age, he’s still very young, raw and enthusiastic about League One.

"For him to come play at Stockport will be a huge challenge, but the style of football we play will suit him down to the ground."

Twenty-five-year-old Baker spent an extremely successful 2007/08 season at Christie Park after joining McIlroy’s side from Southport last summer.

As Morecambe enjoyed a hugely encouraging first campaign in the Football League, Baker made 48 appearances in total, scoring 11 goals.

Meanwhile, Gannon went on to reveal that his summer spending might not have ended yet.

The Hatters boss added: "We are still monitoring some situations.

"In terms of a goalkeeper we are looking at a couple of possible second choices.

"We’ve also had a positive response from another attacking midfielder we’ve been looking at.

"Something could develop on that move by the end of the this week, or if not, early next week."