Boss set to use his ‘gift of the gab’


PAUL Sturrock is relying on his “gift of the gab” in the next few weeks as he bids to stay ahead of the pack in the January sales.

The Town boss revealed he already has a huge festive wish-list drawn up but admits he isn’t expecting an easy time avoiding the stampede, when the transfer window re-opens on January 1. Sturrock is convinced there are potential bargains out there but knows his means of persuasion will be tested to the limit, with his new side in the league’s basement.

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss is no stranger to ‘wheeling and dealing’ having previously orchestrated Plymouth Argyle’s rise through the divisions and insists he is not daunted by the prospect. He said: “It is a catch-22 situation we find ourselves in because we only want to add players who will improve the squad and it is a case of persuading them to play in League Two.

“I have to have that gift of the gab to sell the club to the player and persuade them there is something here for them. “It’s not easy but at Plymouth I was in a similar situation and there were a lot of players who were happy to come and play for us and hopefully we will have more of the same.” With Town’s well publicised financial strife, Sturrock is well aware his transfer coffers won’t be bulging this Christmas but that hasn’t stopped him being in the market for new blood.

He said: “I have got a huge list of players I am interested in but that does not mean to say I will get any of them. “Sooner or later someone will tell me a player is available. I am always chatting to managers about new players, rarely a day goes by when I don’t call one. “All I am looking for is to have an edge over the others and that means having a finger on the pulse. If we can bring players in and they are available, we will.”

Meanwhile, Sturrock insists Andy Monkhouse will be back at the County Ground next week, unless Hartlepool are prepared to make a “very, very lucrative offer”. Monkhouse told the Swindon Advertiser yesterday he wanted to extend his loan spell up North but, with his last game against Bury on Saturday, Sturrock insists he wants him back.

The former Sheffield Wednesday manager also urged fans to take all speculation ‘with a pinch of salt’, as he dismissed recent press reports linking Christian Roberts with Barnsley. Sturrock admitted he would also be in talks with Fulham loanee Michael Timlin and Sofiene Zaboub about extending their time at the County Ground beyond January 1 as he anticipates a busy couple of weeks.

Monkhouse joined the Pools on loan soon after Sturrock’s arrival, with the Town boss citing getting the former Rotheram man back to full fitness after a hamstring injury as the reason. “As far as I am concerned he is coming back as part of the squad,” said Sturrock. “Unless Hartlepool make a very, very lucrative offer I expect him to remain a Swindon player.”

Reports linking former Bristol City striker Roberts with Barnsley have also got the fans talking, but Sturrock isn’t a great admirer of ‘speculation’. He said: “I saw that report but it also linked us with a £600,000 signing which shows you about speculation. “That is how I take things like that, with a pinch of salt. £600,000? Unless someone has a large bank account I don’t know anything about.

“Who knows if any of our players are going to attract the interest of other teams though. “We have a few things we need to sort at the moment. “I will be having a chat with Michael Timlin this week while Zaboub also comes to the end of his initial deal. We will take things as they come.”

Sturock watched a Town side beat a strong Swansea City outfit in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the County Ground yesterday. Sturrock junior, Blair was on the scoresheet while youngster David Stroud bagged the second goal.

Translation:

We want to sell him to Hartlepool but with Swindon Town being completely skint I need to raise as much as I can in order to sign any new players. Hartlepool are interested in one of our players so I'm trying to talk th price up.

I have to agree with you Chip ... I found him to be an average player who failed to convince me he was worth spending money on. If he was on a free, fair enough, but I don't think he warrants a fee, let alone a lucrative one.

on top of that he is out of contract in the summer and can sign pre contract in jan 07....... if wanted sturrocks smoke and mirrors will not work..

I'd personally pay up to 30 grand for him, he looks like he's a decent player and the balance on the left hand side against Rochdale was the best we've had for two years. We looked like a complete team again during that first half hour - that tempo was unsustainable for 90 minutes, and we should maybe have paced ourselves a bit more.Anyway I digress, any other option than Robson and Brackstone has to be better. A few on here think Robson deserves more chances in the future - IMO he doesn't. Monkhouse at least looks like he's a football player.

Officially, he can only sign a pre-contract for a foreign club in January.

monets over-rated IMO

Dead right Salty, Monet never recieved the adoration that Manet got despite being a far better artist. I'm sure that this is what Mr ADG was rather cleverly and obscurely referring to. I think he was inferring that Monkhouse is a far better artist (player) than some credit him with.

Good high brow stuff Mr Dibble, I salute you.

I thought Monet did a sparkling Eddie Waring although Yarwoods Harold Wilson was supreme.

The master of all impressionists though had to be Large from Little and Large doing Cliff Richard. Masterful. :sweet:

i thought cliff doing cliff is very good and he should have had no.1 last week with that fantastic xmas song....

21st century christmas........

hands up who didn't buy it..?