Town chairman David Sheepshanks has said that Town have turned down Leicester’s bid for James Scowcroft, thought to be around the £3.5 million mark. However, it seems this is not necessarily the end of the matter with further developments likely. Sheepshanks has also said that Town themselves have two bids in at present, although he wasn’t giving any names. One of these is likely to be Hartlepool’s Tommy Miller.
On the Scowcroft situation Sheepshanks said: "Leicester are very interested and they’ve made a formal proposal to us. We have not accepted it at this juncture. We don’t want to sell Scowy, we’re about buying not selling as a club, but on the other hand I can’t quite tell you what will come of it at the moment. James has been to see us and has had a chat and may be interested in looking at other options, but by the same token George has made it clear he is part of his first team plans and he wants him here. We’ll have to see how things develop."
Further negotiations and the possible involvement of other clubs may well be the way things go from here. On the subject of buying the chairman, who is off at the end of the week on holiday for a month, says the wheels are in motion to bring two players to Portman Road: "I’m actually in a couple of attempted transfers at this moment. I can’t tell you any more about them, but we’ve certainly opened negotiations in two instances. Hopefully something will come of those in the next week or two. So, watch this space! There may even be more."
Sheepshanks points out that the current squad is not a weak one, despite the need for strengthening: "We are looking to strengthen the squad but we’ve got a strong one which came fifth in the Premiership. OK, Richard Wright’s gone, but has been replaced by Andy Marshall, we’re excited about that. We’ve got Pablo, we’re really looking to see him adjust and hopefully we’ll have a couple of others come near the beginning of the season. We’re in very good shape on the playing side, but it will be exciting for supporters if we bring in another name or two."
Town however, won’t be rushing into any panic buys: "There is no need to be profligate."
The chairman warns that new signings might not arrive until just before the season starts: "It might be that new signings don’t come until a few days before the new season."
Sheepshanks also wished Paul Goddard the best of luck with his move to West Ham and thanked him for his role in building up the Academy. No replacement has as yet been lined up.
Whilst he is away the chairman’s duties will be carried out by John Kerr while Sheepshanks himself will be in regular contact with George Burley.