Post by GasHeadGaz on Jul 17, 2014 8:18:12 GMT
PETERBOROUGH United look to have cooled their interest in Bristol Rovers defender Michael Smith after making a move for Swindon Town right-back Nathan Thompson.
The Post understands Peterborough were the club that tabled a bid that prompted Smith, who has a year left to run on his contract, to submit a written transfer request earlier this week.
Manager Darrell Clarke has since confirmed the offer was rejected and that Smith would remain at the Memorial Stadium until the club in question tabled a bid that matched Rovers' valuation of the highly-rated 25-year-old.
Peterborough are in the market for a right-back after losing Mark Little and Craig Alcock over the summer, but chairman Darragh MacAnthony yesterday warned they would not be "rushing in" and "paying over the odds" for any of their remaining transfer targets.
Young Manchester City full-back Adam Drury is on trial with a view to a loan move and was scheduled to feature in a pre-season friendly in Portugal last night – but a campaigner with some lower-league experience also appears to be on their radar following reports that a bid of about £200,000 for Thompson was rejected by Swindon yesterday.
Smith sat out Rovers' pre-season friendly defeat at the hands of Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night because of a minor knee problem and may also miss the game against Bath City at Twerton Park on Saturday.
Clarke remains in the market for four players and is prepared to be patient in his attempts to bolster the squad after being turned down by "one or two" targets over the last fortnight.
The latest of those to reject a move to the Memorial Stadium is believed to have been England C international midfielder Dan Bradley, who is looking for a club after being released from his contract at Barnet.
Clarke is understood to have held talks with right-sided midfielder Bradley at the end of last week – but the player, who starred for Alfreton Town last season, is believed to be keen to find a club that will allow him to remain closer to his home in the Midlands.
The Rovers boss, meanwhile, declared himself "satisfied" after watching his new-look side perform together for the first time against Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road on Tuesday night. The game was eventually settled by a 75th-minute goal by Cheltenham striker Byron Harrison, but Clarke said: "It was a good workout and I thought the lads did well against a team that was playing their third pre-season game.
"I couldn't fault the effort of the players at all, but we just needed to be a bit better in possession and slightly more creative when we had the ball.
"You don't expect miracles in the first game of pre-season and we have plenty of time to work on the areas we need to improve before our first league game."
Clarke handed three of his summer signings – Lee Mansell, Stuart Sinclair and Matt Taylor – places in the starting line-up, while fellow new arrivals, Jake Gosling and Jamie White, joined the action after the break.
"Jamie is one of two or three players off their fitness levels, but he is working very hard behind the scenes to try and shift half-a-stone," said Clarke. "When we get him into good shape he is someone who will score goals for us at this level and I also thought the rest of the new lads gave a good account of themselves.
"I thought Matt Taylor looked sharp and Lee Mansell put a shift in, while Stuart Sinclair is a non-stop runner and that is what you will get every time you see him play for us."
Trialists, Ryan Higgins and Pierce Mitchell were also handed a further opportunity to stake claims for permanent contracts.
"They will remain at the club and will continue to try to impress," said Clarke.
"I thought Ryan did well for 40 minutes and Pierce did well when he came on, but I would like to see a bit more of them before I make any decision."
The Post understands Peterborough were the club that tabled a bid that prompted Smith, who has a year left to run on his contract, to submit a written transfer request earlier this week.
Manager Darrell Clarke has since confirmed the offer was rejected and that Smith would remain at the Memorial Stadium until the club in question tabled a bid that matched Rovers' valuation of the highly-rated 25-year-old.
Peterborough are in the market for a right-back after losing Mark Little and Craig Alcock over the summer, but chairman Darragh MacAnthony yesterday warned they would not be "rushing in" and "paying over the odds" for any of their remaining transfer targets.
Young Manchester City full-back Adam Drury is on trial with a view to a loan move and was scheduled to feature in a pre-season friendly in Portugal last night – but a campaigner with some lower-league experience also appears to be on their radar following reports that a bid of about £200,000 for Thompson was rejected by Swindon yesterday.
Smith sat out Rovers' pre-season friendly defeat at the hands of Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night because of a minor knee problem and may also miss the game against Bath City at Twerton Park on Saturday.
Clarke remains in the market for four players and is prepared to be patient in his attempts to bolster the squad after being turned down by "one or two" targets over the last fortnight.
The latest of those to reject a move to the Memorial Stadium is believed to have been England C international midfielder Dan Bradley, who is looking for a club after being released from his contract at Barnet.
Clarke is understood to have held talks with right-sided midfielder Bradley at the end of last week – but the player, who starred for Alfreton Town last season, is believed to be keen to find a club that will allow him to remain closer to his home in the Midlands.
The Rovers boss, meanwhile, declared himself "satisfied" after watching his new-look side perform together for the first time against Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road on Tuesday night. The game was eventually settled by a 75th-minute goal by Cheltenham striker Byron Harrison, but Clarke said: "It was a good workout and I thought the lads did well against a team that was playing their third pre-season game.
"I couldn't fault the effort of the players at all, but we just needed to be a bit better in possession and slightly more creative when we had the ball.
"You don't expect miracles in the first game of pre-season and we have plenty of time to work on the areas we need to improve before our first league game."
Clarke handed three of his summer signings – Lee Mansell, Stuart Sinclair and Matt Taylor – places in the starting line-up, while fellow new arrivals, Jake Gosling and Jamie White, joined the action after the break.
"Jamie is one of two or three players off their fitness levels, but he is working very hard behind the scenes to try and shift half-a-stone," said Clarke. "When we get him into good shape he is someone who will score goals for us at this level and I also thought the rest of the new lads gave a good account of themselves.
"I thought Matt Taylor looked sharp and Lee Mansell put a shift in, while Stuart Sinclair is a non-stop runner and that is what you will get every time you see him play for us."
Trialists, Ryan Higgins and Pierce Mitchell were also handed a further opportunity to stake claims for permanent contracts.
"They will remain at the club and will continue to try to impress," said Clarke.
"I thought Ryan did well for 40 minutes and Pierce did well when he came on, but I would like to see a bit more of them before I make any decision."
