Scunthorpe United boss Brian Laws getting 'lot of knockbacks' in bid for early Christmas presents
Despite getting 'a lot of knockbacks' Scunthorpe United boss Brian Laws is hopeful of bringing in a new face before the loan window shuts next Thursday - and possibly in time for Saturday's game against Notts County.
The chances of securing a return for midfielder Matt Sparrow though, are looking increasingly slim as the Iron and Brighton struggle to agree a deal over the player's wages.
-
ON THE LOOKOUT: Boss Brian Laws remains hopeful of bringing in another loan signing before next Thursday's deadline
Albion are refusing to let Sparrow re-join the club where he spent 11 years on the cheap, with manager Gus Poyet saying: "We have got no problem with Matt going to Scunthorpe but there is a negotiation. We don't give presents.
"We help people but we are not Santa Claus, not yet. December (25) is still a month-and-a-half away."
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
Laws though, argues Brighton are missing a chance to put a player who has no future at the club back in people's thoughts prior to the January transfer window.
"I said to him (Poyet) I was Santa Laws, but he wasn't buying that one," Laws joked.
"We understand there's a cost involved, but we're trying and we have tried.
"I understand as well, they're not a charity. But what we feel we can give players is the stadium and the chance to go play games, which will put them in the shop window.
"He (Sparrow) is not in the shop window at the moment, he's in the back cupboard, hiding.
"You need to get him back on the shelf, get him on the pitch if they want to move him on. We're offering that opportunity.
"We might not be able to pay, but we can actually give them something they need – that is to give the lad games and get him back in the shop window and get people watching him.
"If he (Poyet) is going to give his presents out in December it's a bit late! I need an early one."
Already low on numbers, injuries and suspensions – as well as the impending end of other players' loan deals – threaten to whittle Laws' squad further.
Bringing in support though, is proving difficult.
"Each day that goes by, I'm talking to a lot of people," said the Iron boss.
"I'm getting a lot of knockbacks, which you'd expect because we're asking something that's quite unique. We're asking people to really do us a favour in terms of finances.
"We're trying every avenue we possibly can to bring players in on that score.
"We're getting a lot of knockbacks on that, understandably, but we'll see what we can do.
"We're hopeful we can do something.
"We know the market is there until the 22nd, but I also know a lot of clubs are holding back a little bit.
"They know which players and we know which players can actually go out on loan, and I think they're waiting for that last moment to see whether they get the full amount of money back.
"I think a lot of clubs are doing that.
"It would be nice to get one in before the weekend, but it might be a case of having to wait until very close to the beginning of next week."
Readers of the Scunthorpe Telegraph will be able to watch Brian Laws' first home game as Iron boss for up to £5 less than matchday prices.
The Telegraph has teamed up with the Iron to offer fans amazing savings on ticket prices for the game against Notts County on Saturday, November 17.
We will include a voucher in the next edition of the Telegraph, out November 15, which offers £5 off all adult tickets, £3 off concessions and enable entry to the ground for all Under-16s for just £1.
Make sure you pick up a copy on Thursday November 15.
Comments
by Deereyme
Friday, November 16 2012, 9:13PM
“Ay up, oscarmoggy, see below, shock, horror, me and Dflated disagree on something. Can you adam and eve it? I suggest this is because we have our own minds and opinions and don't merely latch on to others pseudo-academic theories in hero-worship fashion.”
by Deereyme
Thursday, November 15 2012, 9:09AM
“Surely there's a South Park style animation youtube clip in the making of two managers on the phone the with a jagged line down the middle, one of them saying, 'I'm not Santa Claus!' and the other saying 'well, I'm Santa Laws!', silence for 10 seconds and a bit of tumbleweed rolling past. I would pay to see that.”
by DFlated
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 5:55PM
“With the 3000 extra fans some on here are predicting, bringing anyone in won't be a problem.
He will be on 10k a week contract down there so they are bound to hang on for anyone offering more than the £100 and bag of Werthers that we will be offering.”
by Deereyme
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 5:11PM
“That's the age old danger for both player and club/s isn't it? Think at this rate he'll be gone by the deadline, if not here somewhere else. Sounds like other clubs wouldn't have to pay too much. That's if anyone else wants to pay more than Laws and Wharton are willing to. He's hardly a top prospect on his wages is he? But he could do a job for us again I think so I wouldn't rule out him making a return on deadline day.”
by AnonTaxPayer
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 2:10PM
“Deereyme
If Sparrow is on any other clubs' radar Poyet is probably using the same ploy as with the IRON which is likely to result in Sparrow moving nowhere.”
by Blue_Jean
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 1:30PM
“Laws and Poyet - two pretty tough characters.
But who'd win a scrap?”
by Deereyme
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 1:19PM
“Not entirely in agreement. If Laws said nothing he would get slated and at least he appears to be honest about it. With Knill it was compounded by poor...everything. I would suspect he's trying to force Brighton's hand by making them look tight and unfair - a traditional Laws tactic that may or may not work in this instance. We can all see both sides of the argument, Brighton's is a purely business in immediate cash terms and Laws is for the good of the player and indirectly for Brighton if he does well and they are able to get a better price for him eventually. Their accountant will be saying no way to peanuts and I just hope they are playing the 'hold out for more cash for as long as possible' game for our benefit and Sparrows. Ironically this situation will have already worked in Brighton's favour as he'll now be on other team's radars so maybe it would have been better to keep quiet after all!”
by Blue_Jean
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 12:53PM
“Thanks Knill. We can't afford to sign any better players.
Hope your Movember is going well.”
by DFlated
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 12:18PM
“It would have been better to keep schtum about the knockbacks and the begging bowl Brian. We had all of these excuses in the summer and it was wearing very thin then. We are not in a unique position as we have to stick to the fair wage rules like all other clubs have to. Where we are unique is having let an idiot manage the club and fritter away what little money we had on poor signings.
Remember it was you who said Tranmere had a lower budget than us but that is hard to justify when their gates are twice that of ours and they are where they are in the league. I was hoping for some reality upon your return and the reality is that SUFC has been tarnished by the previous incumbent and three years of not investing in the squad and thus closing the viscous circle.”