Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that he held talks with Yeovil winger Joel Grant over the summer, but says that deal would only have happened if the swap move involving Paul Anderson and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had fallen through. Grant, 26, joined the Glovers from Wycombe Wanderers in July having held talks with the Blues manager.

McCarthy says Grant and his representatives were aware that Town were working on the switch which saw Emmanuel-Thomas move to Bristol City and Anderson join the Blues: “I had talks with him here. There were things ongoing and I had a deal for Paul Anderson if I could get Jay Emmanuel-Thomas out to them.

“I was spinning plates, like I do in the summer, and just hoping they didn’t all fall on my head and they didn’t.

“I had that deal lined-up and [Grant] and his agent knew that that was the case and they were talking to other clubs like they do, like players do and agents do.

“I was never, ever going to sign anybody without losing one, so the symbiotic deal was lose Jay, take Paul and I’m delighted with my deal.

“If Jay hadn’t have gone, who knows? But the deal I wanted, because I had it set up, meant Jay went to Bristol City and I took Paul Anderson. All along that was the case, so I was never signing Joel, unless something else [had happened] and they knew that.”

Photo: Action Images

runningout added 11:53 - Sep 17 Personally would have preferred Grant..... Hope Anderson proves me wrong and bucks up
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NorthstaNder added 12:04 - Sep 17 Anderson is learning a new(ish) role. He'll come good.
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meekreech added 12:36 - Sep 17 Anderson is being used in a different way by MM as he is more tactically aware and uses his players in the best way . Anderson is starting to learn his new role in the side and will become a useful member of the side as MM would have had this role in mind . MM tried to get JET into this role but he did not have the discipline but he saw in Anderson the player to fill the role . Given time he will succeed in the position and give us the extra spark on the right .

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Alwaysablue added 13:43 - Sep 17 Anderson is also 2 years younger than Grant and has played consistently at a higher level, much better signing.
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oscarwhiting added 16:39 - Sep 17 Meekreech- spot on, Anderson will come good. Another good performance tonight and three points aswell :) COYB
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bournemouthblue added 18:20 - Sep 17 Well that explains why he ended up at Yeovil, the option of Ipswich or Yeovil was simply never there for him
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jas0999 added 18:31 - Sep 18 Thought Grant was decent last night. Must give Anderson time. We need a replacement for Edwards!
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