Down to the wire
Reporter: Tony Bugby
Date published: 03 February 2009
ATHLETIC rushed through the loan signing of Wolves player Daniel Jones (pictured inset) 15 minutes before the transfer window shut.
But a move for another unnamed player broke down, although that deal could be resurrected as an emergency loan later this month.
In a busy day at Boundary Park, striker Chris O’Grady was loaned to Coca-Cola League One rivals Stockport County for the remainder of the campaign just after hours after he returned from a spell at Bradford City.
Striker Craig Davies completed his transfer to Brighton for an undisclosed six-figure sum, which is understood to be more than £100,000.
The reason Jones’ loan move to the end of the season went down to the wire is because of his currently injury situation.
He is recovering from the ankle ligament damage sustained in his initial loan spell with Athletic in December.
An agreement has been struck whereby Athletic don’t pay any of Jones’ wages until he resumes playing. He is expected to be back in action for the trip to Yeovil on February 21.
Jones, who impressed during his initial two-months at Boundary Park, will provide more options on the left.
Manager John Sheridan’s move for a second player failed because of circumstances at the player’s club.
O’Grady, who has had temporary spells at Bury and Bradford already this season, was unable to cross the Pennines to sign his forms.
But Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy got round the problem by faxing the paperwork to a post office near to O’Grady’s home and the striker was able to sign and return the forms.
Meanwhile, full-back Neal Eardley has been called up to the full Wales squad for a friendly against Poland in Portugal next Wednesday.
Eardley, who has won nine full caps, will leave on Sunday and return on Thursday, which means he won’t miss any matches for Athletic.
Davies is also named in the squad, which also includes Manchester City pair Craig Bellamy and Ched Evans.
It is a lift for the 20-year-old Eardley, who has been unable to recover his right-back spot from Kelvin Lomax in the two games since he came back from a one-match ban.
Athletic cancelled training yesterday for safety reasons.
ATHLETIC’S Coca-Cola League One fixture at home to Bristol Rovers was postponed more than 24 hours before kick-off.
Stockport-based Football League assistant referee Dean Mohareb made the decision to save Rovers from making the long journey north.
With a blanket of snow covering the pitch, and a further fall forecast for overnight, there was no hope of tonight’s match going ahead.
