Busy Deadline Day At Edgeley Park

After predicting it would be a quiet day on the transfer front yesterday for Stockport County I was pleasantly surprised with the action that did go on, although strange at the same time.

We first announced the signing of Hull City striker Mark Cullen on an initial one-month loan deal – although there is the option to extend this to the end of the season should it provide worthwhile.

Next we had the move of announcing the signing of Jon Macken. Initial thoughts are ‘Wow’. This guy once cost Manchester City £5 million 11 years ago, before moving for another £1 million a few years later. Then you take a step back and think, yes its a name, but the guy is 35, he has played very few games for Northwich Victoria and only scored twice this season, and it was widely acknowledged his legs had gone a while ago.

However looking at the positive side of things, I am sure the likes of Hattersley and Collins will learn things from playing with him, whilst Danny Whitehead may enjoy having a goalscorer upfront to link up with. He has represented England U20s and Republic of Ireland too – so he is definitely going to have experience, and hopefully that is the positive.

Then came the third signing, a winger from Middlesbrough going by the name of Jake Fowler. He has represented England at a few different unders level, so he must have a bit of quality about him, he was also recently given a professional contract by Middlesbrough so they must rate him to give him a 2 year contract.

So three signings, and by all means three attacking players. What we were desperately calling out for though was an experienced centre half, someone who can call the shots from the back and give us a complete backbone.
A statement released on County’s official website late last night confirmed that we had agreed terms with a defender earlier in the day, but that move fell through. We believe it could have been Luke Jones from Mansfield who we know was on the shortlist when Jim Gannon was in charge.

It also confirmed that the club had rejected three approaches for three different players, Danny Hattersley, Jon Nolan and Sean Newton. Whether money was involved we are not sure, we believe if any money was involved it was below the £20,000 mark County may have been prepared to accept.

But after we predicted a quiet day it was good to see the three players we brought in and we hope they have a positive effect on the team for tomorrow’s game against Nuneaton.

Come on County!