​MANAGER Ian Baraclough revealed how persistence paid off when explaining his reasons for making defender Michael Nelson his ninth and final recruit of January late last night.

The Iron signed the Norwich City centre-back on a two-and-a-half-year deal an hour before the transfer window closed, having reignited their interest in a player they first courted two years ago.

Having seen Martyn Woolford depart for Bristol City earlier in the day, many fans had hoped a final deadline day deal would be a left winger to replace the former York man.

That search continues, but when given the green light to speak to Nelson yesterday afternoon, Baraclough was keen to add more experience and nous to his back line.

“I have been wanting to bring some experience in and am delighted to have finally got the player I was after,” said Baraclough, of Nelson, who will be in contention to make his debut in Saturday's game with Hull City.

“He is someone I asked about a fair while ago, but I kept getting knocked back by Norwich manager Paul Lambert.

“They did not want to let him go. He was very much part of the squad there.

“But you keep asking the question and perseverance has paid off.”

Nelson was a player Scunthorpe tried to chase two summers ago when he left Hartlepool to join Norwich, who he helped to the League One title last season.

And with the likes of David Mirfin and Rob Jones struggling to string a run of games together because of injuries, Baraclough feels he had no choice but to strengthen.

“It has been highlighted during the past two years that we have had problems with injuries and have not been able to get two settled centre halves,” said Baraclough.

“It’s a problem if your centre halves are going to keep chopping and changing. You are not going to get continuity and that unfortunately means you are going to get problems.

“That has been the case again this year.

“I had to do something about it and I am delighted to have finally got the man I wanted.”

Nelson admits the last 24 hours have been something of a whirlwind as he learned of a Scunthorpe United bid being accepted by the Carrow Road hierachy. He then faced a three hour drive up to Glanford Park.

“I knew there was possibility of a bid coming in,” he said.

"But then Paul Lambert rang me to tell me it had been accepted mid-to-late afternoon, so it was just a question of me getting in the car and driving up here.

“Fortunately I got here in time to have my medical and for everything to go through.

“I spoke to Nigel Adkins about coming here two years ago, but ended up going to Norwich.

“I really enjoyed it there but in football you sometimes know it is time to move on and move forward.

“That is why I am here now at Scunthorpe. I'm looking forward to a new challenge here.”