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Hearts Hold McAuley Talks as Town Go into Deadline Day Seeking Centre-Half
Friday, 31st Aug 2018 09:31

Hearts have emerged as contenders to sign former Blues skipper Gareth McAuley, who is also interesting Town, Rangers and Aberdeen.

The 38-year-old central defender is a free agent having left West Brom at the end of last season. EFL clubs have until 5pm today to sign loanees, while the Scottish transfer window closes at midnight.

Austin MacPhee, assistant coach at Tynecastle, who is currently in temporary charge of the Scottish Premiership side with manager Craig Levein having been taken ill earlier in the week, confirmed that talks have taken place.

“Gareth McAuley is a player I know really well,” he told The Scotsman. “I’ve worked with him for five years [as assistant coach of Northern Ireland] and I have huge respect for him.

“He still trains every day. All his GPS info is right up there and his stats defy his age - maybe because he came into football a bit later.

“But I don’t know if Gareth will become a Hearts player. He is a player both myself and the manager like but it depends on a few things with the budget and with what we need that centre-back to do, and what Gareth wants to do as well. But we have had a chat with him.”

Rangers’ interest in McAuley may have diminished with Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall set to sign on loan today. Aberdeen were reported to be keen in the Scottish press last week.

Landing another centre-half is Town’s priority going into deadline day with McAuley one of a number of players in manager Paul Hurst’s thoughts.

It’s believed the Blues remain interesting in AFC Wimbledon skipper Deji Oshilaja, who was at the club and came close to signing on the final day of the transfer window, while West Ham’s James Collins is another central defender who has come into consideration, although it is believed the 35-year-old Welshman could return to the Hammers, while QPR are also said to be keen.

Last night, Town were linked with Wolves skipper Danny Batth, however, Sheffield Wednesday appear to be the favourites for the 27-year-old with Leeds also reported to be contenders.

Both Town boss Hurst and Blackpool interim-manager Terry McPhillips have said the Blues' long-standing move for central defender Curtis Tilt, which looked to have made progress earlier in the week, isn't going to come to fruition.

“As far as we’re aware it’s dead now but we’re not stupid — it’s football and anything can happen until 5pm,” McPhillips told the Blackpool Gazette.

“We don’t want to lose anyone else. It will be nervous times for us. If we can keep the squad we’ve got and maybe add another one or two, then I think we’ll be in good fettle.”


Photo: Action Images



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BrettenhamBlue added 09:40 - Aug 31
We clearly need another centre-half so the club needs to get one of these deals sorted. Still also say we are one striker light.
1

BlueBlood90 added 09:45 - Aug 31
I really wish the deadline would close the day before the season starts. I'm not on Hurst's back in the slightest but it was poor management to enter the season with only two senior centre backs who hadn't even had a chance to play together in pre-season. Then to go and waste the whole window chasing a player we're not even going to sign. Hope lessons have been learned from this window.
3

Northstander_Blue added 09:48 - Aug 31
This doesn't bother me. Would rather miss out on MacAuley tbh. Batth, Tilt or Oshilaja please.
3

Guthrum added 09:49 - Aug 31
Surely free agents can be signed at any time (as long as they left their former club before the end of the preceding window)?
1

jimmyjames added 10:00 - Aug 31
No bother. Move on.
0

Palestine added 10:05 - Aug 31
Good point Guthrum, I hope that is true..?

ps. I had the weirdest dream last night. Dreamt that in the week before the derby, Ipswich were winning their game 6-0, Reuser (back on loan?) completing his hatrick, and Norwich were 5-0 down in another game. It was crazy and felt like a good omen going into Sunday....
1

TraktorBoyz added 10:07 - Aug 31
If we could get a CB on free and loan a Cdm that would be amazing. Rate Chalobah highly but need options.
0

jim9 added 10:16 - Aug 31
I still read some people saying “why leave it till the end of the window to get these players in! Why wasn't it done earlier?” What is a matter with you! It's not as if players are sitting there waiting to be picked of a shelf in the “ player isle “ in a supermarket. Some fans really are not thinking it through. It has to be good for both parties. Wasting my breath I know.
3

iaintaylorx added 10:25 - Aug 31
Bring back a prime Jason de Vos! In all fairness, if we got Batth, I would be incredibly happy with that! Fantastic defender and one who would add great quality and experience into the side for Sunday!
1

TimmyH added 10:27 - Aug 31
38!!! - bloody hell, probably prefer Batth.
2

nhabo added 10:30 - Aug 31
The free agents aspect is an interesting one. As far as I know, a free agent could still be signed at any point during the season (as long as they were released by their club before the end of the transfer window). I presume the EFL have tried to restrict this via squad registration. i.e. would have to be registered by 5pm on deadline day. By that token, a club would presumably be able to sign a free agent after today but they wouldn't be able to play until the next registration opportunity arises. Would be interesting to see what the outcome would be if a player were to contest this as e.g. restriction of trade.
0

Len_Brennan added 10:31 - Aug 31
Jim9.
Would you accept that a massive amount of transfers have gone through since the end of last season? If you have a critical position in your team to fill, and centre half has clearly been a critical position all summer, it is incumbent on the club to get someone in as early as possible and avoid this last minute mad scramble.
This is worse that the debacle of not having a striker to replace Murphy; at least you can argue that it happened to late & we didn't have time.
0

PortmanTerrorist added 10:49 - Aug 31
What would he come here for as he clearly would not be even a medium term option. We have tried to be strong, but Blackpool hold the cards re Tilt and are basically a bonkers Club. However, we should pay the price now as Tilt could be a future Captain....we not have any other realistic option other than unwanted journeymen now.
0

BeattiesBackPocket added 11:01 - Aug 31
Len Brennan so in your opinion you would rather scramble and get a player in who maybe doesn't tick the boxes just so we have someone!? Thats what Mick used to do which is why we signed 80 players in 5 years with most not even making the first team. Im sure if you're buying a house and spending money you have to be careful with you wouldn't just buy one for the sake of it you'd want to buy one you felt comfortable with and liked! Same here I dont want Hurst wasting money like predecessors on players he doesnt really want. He has a massive overhaul to change the football being played and unfortunately that always meant alot of people leaving. This takes time how about we give him time like we did Mick.
2

Tractorboy1985 added 11:03 - Aug 31
Since the sale of Adam Webster is how long our inept owner has had to bring a centre halve to the club and we are scrapping round on LOAN deadline day for cover! Shame on you! Unfortunately whilst the likes of Evans and Ashley think they can filter money away into football clubs with no interest or ambition in the club and to dodge tax, clubs like ours and Newcastle's will fail! FACT!
-1

TraktorBoyz added 11:24 - Aug 31
If ME was that bad we wouldn't even be bringing anyone on loan especially from the prem. Newcastle have only given Benitez a fraction of transfer sales where we have signed 9 players can't be far off what we got.
0

blueboy1981 added 11:32 - Aug 31
........ I find it extremely hard to believe that we are STILL crying out for a Central Defender - get your skates on Evans and Hurst and get a deal DONE, before we have more likely defeats, and points lost that are irretrievable, they may become extremely important come the end of season.

Points on the board are now needed, the longer you are holding the 'others up' - the more difficult it will be to turn it around.
Relying on others to falter, just will not work.
2

blueboy1981 added 11:34 - Aug 31
........ the fact that we still have this absent, and much needed, CD just has to be down to 'penny pinching' yet again. Nothing much changes there unfortunately.
-2

blueboy1981 added 11:36 - Aug 31
........ amazingly, some people will always blame 'other clubs' for our failings.

Get real - and cut the excuses people - they ran out seasons back.
0

blueboy1981 added 11:42 - Aug 31
......... bottom of the League - day before a local derby - deadline day - and we are STILL scratching around for a Defender.

One word - DIABOLICAL - it has to be said.
1

Tractorboy1985 added 11:49 - Aug 31
TraktorBoyz... he really has pulled the wool over your eyes hasn't he?? Your truly happy with how our football club is being run?? Slumped at the bottom of the championship.. scrapping around for loans season after season... we are a club in demise under this owner!
0

blueboy1981 added 11:58 - Aug 31
...... whoever the Owner or Manager is of a Club, with ambition. in our situation as in 'today', meaning precisely this very day - it is has to be seen as shameful.

Anyone who is happy with this state of flux - is deluded - it HAS to be better than that, otherwise it has to be seen as a Club in demise.

Get it sorted - Head Honcho's.
-2

Bluearmy_81 added 11:59 - Aug 31
Agree tractorboy. I'm personally staggered at what an easy ride Evans gets from fans considering his history of underinvestment (appropriate to a Championship club with ambition of promotion.) That is what we want isn't it?! He is the biggest cause for town being where they are now yet people still back him after one scripted interview?! Unbelievable
1

Northstandveteran added 12:16 - Aug 31
But he smiled lots and came across as a really nice man......
2

Len_Brennan added 12:24 - Aug 31
BeattiesBackPocket:
I think you need to read my post again if you think I'm advocating getting players in during a scramble. In my opinion, it should have been sorted over the last 2+ months, so that we are not left to possibly to sign someone who shouldn't be on our radar, but is out of desperation and costly to boot.
As for your house analogy; I bought my house when my wife was pregnant with our first child, our needs were clear and they were different from when it was just the 2 of us, so we couldn't just sit tight. It was important that we got one that would cater for a new baby, but also with a bit of forward planning for future additional family members. Sure we were careful not to buy just anything, but our situation dictated that we had to move and we had a 'deadline' date for when it had to happen by. At the last minute the sellers changed their mind & we had to urgently go back to the market. The deadline date remained the same as did our needs; ultimately we found another suitable house, but had to pay a bit extra than for the previous house, which we might not have done had we not an impending due date.
Bottom line is, we got the house and were in before my daughter was born. It was aboslutely the right thing to do and we have never regretted paying the extra to get the right house in time for her arrival.
If Tilt had been identifed as the right player at this time, we should have paid the extra £150k to get him a few weeks ago. We now risk not getting someone in in time or bringing in of lesser suitability and possibly on higher wages.
0


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