Cheltenham Town head coach Wade Elliott gave fans an update on the clubs transfer dealings, as we head into Deadline Day eve.
Already having signed forward Will Goodwin from Stoke City on a two-and-a-half-year deal, and loaning defender Elkan Baggott from Ipswich Town; the Robins have been rumoured to have broken their transfer record yesterday with the signing of Irish forward Aidan Keena from Sligo Rovers.
Elliott hinted that another signing was close to arriving at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium on Saturday after his sides uninspiring 0-0 draw at home to Port Vale.
“We were on the phone last night till I don’t know when. so, I can’t say who or what was asked for, I wouldn’t want to be too revealing, but there’s loads of work going on.”
The Robins head coach confirmed that the side would be actively looking for forwards in the transfer window during his press conference before December’s fixture away at Shrewsbury, Elliott said “we think there are a couple of different attributes and skill sets we can add to the team, and we’ll look to do a little bit in the forward line.”
Saturday’s fixture was the final outing in order asses the squad before the transfer window shuts, and despite the addition of Keena, Elliott hints at another incoming before tomorrow’s deadline.
“It will be one or two, it won’t be masses, but I don’t think we need masses and masses. I think it would be nice to have one or two to change the dynamics a little bit and to give everybody a little of a lift and fresh things up. We had a big churn in the summer, fortunately were in the position were in the position, it doesn’t need to be massive…If we go to Bolton with the squad I got I would be satisfied, if we go up there with one or two more, I would be delighted.”
“I couldn’t give you that nuance or answer on the balance of the market, the position that we are looking, there are a lot of clubs looking for a small pool of players, and a big number of clubs looking. Maybe the last window was the outlier, we did some outstanding work really early but it may be unrealistic to expect that every window.”
The taboo subject of this transfer window, is the threat that top scorer Alfie May could entice a club to come in at the last minute, leaving the Robins without one of their most influential players. Elliott calmed the nerves of fans though, confirming he has not been made aware of any bids for the forward, or any other player. “I’m not aware of any bids or anything like that, I guess I know who you are asking about, but I’m not aware of anything.”
