United boss Baraclough: We won't be held to any ransom
IF EVER Ian Baraclough wanted a reality check about taking over as manager of Scunthorpe United, it has come since the transfer window reopened this January.
Like his predecessor Nigel Adkins three years ago, during the Iron's first season at Championship level, he has found it difficult to attract players to Glanford Park.
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MORE TO COME: United manager Ian Baraclough, hopeful today of completing the signing of Morecambe winger Mark Duffy.
With the club languishing in the relegation zone, they are not an attractive proposition for the sort of players they need to help them clamber out of the bottom three.
But Baraclough continues to battle against the odds to bring in new recruits.
He is hoping today to complete the signing of winger Mark Duffy from Morecambe.
The 24-year-old player had talks at Glanford Park yesterday and then stayed overnight in the Scunthorpe area.
What Baraclough will now be hoping is that he does not get the same scenario he did with Kilmarnock striker Conor Sammon who opted to reject a move to the Iron and return to Scotland after thinking about it overnight.
That was a bitter blow to the Iron boss, who is desperately looking to strengthen his faltering attack.
"We are still looking and still making inquiries," he declared.
"But we are not going to be held to ransom by paying massively over-inflated prices that are being asked for players.
"I might be new to the job of management, but I do know the value of money."
It seems Baraclough is unlikely to go back for Bristol Rovers hot-shot Will Hoskins, having already had three bids turned down.
He was at another match on Tuesday night, looking at another possible target.
But he is keeping that close to his chest.
"I was told when I took the job how difficult it could be in January," the United boss confessed.
"We are only two-thirds of the way through the month and in many ways this transfer market is just beginning to hot up."
Baraclough wanted to avoid being involved in a mad scramble to try and sign players at the end of the month.
But the reality is that he might – though he is aware of the situation three years ago when United were in their first season at Championship level and his predecessor Adkins struggled to strengthen the squad that he had then.
Adkins brought in a number of players who hardly made an impact – and Baraclough is determined not to go down the same path.
He has already signed centre-back Paul Reid from Colchester for a reported fee of £100,000, who will kake his home debut against Burnley on Saturday.
He has also snapped-up teenage midfield man Abdisalam Ibrahim on loan from Manchester City to replace the injured Michael O'Connor who now faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Ibrahim too will make his first home appearance on Saturday.
And Baraclough has another Premier League youngster on his way on loan.
He is full-back Ben Gordon from Chelsea, who is currently recovering at Stamford Bridge from an injury he picked up on a previous loan at Kilmarnock.
7 Comments
by 1500club, Lincs
Thursday, January 20 2011, 5:23PM
“Correct - just as your predictable, 'me,me,me' response...your STEREOTYPICAL 'support' is about as much use as giving a dog a bone after peeing on your new carpet.
The reality is that you dont actually cheer or sing do you - you moan about people moaning cos you dont have the hair around your nackers to verbally backthe team, as you would like us all to believe from behind your keyboard.
If you wish to prove me wrong - please applaud and sing on Saturda cos I've not heard any of that since the board moved the supporters from the GWS, since Wharton cashed in on Hooper/Hayes/Williams/Macaan/Hammond/Adkins/Crosby etc without replacing any of them and since the penny dropped about the new stand MYTH.
This situation is of our own making, it isnt like we showed courage in the summer and have been unlucky or plucky, just a disaster and that is the doing of those who control the cash you and I inject at the turnstiles....if you believe that is worth applauding then go ahead.
Up the Iron!”
by Oscar O'Moggie, Brigg
Thursday, January 20 2011, 1:51PM
“What did I tell you Mincey, didn't take them long at all. They are so predictable.”
by 1500club, Lincs
Thursday, January 20 2011, 12:20PM
“Moggie spends 90 minutes clapping - but always misses!”
by CARL LEWIS, DERBY
Thursday, January 20 2011, 12:14PM
“No Moggie,time for the team to give iron fans something to cheer about,something they have failed to do since the Palace game,games are running out and we need points on the board,don,t agree with booing the team but even you must be able to understand the fans frustrations ,keep clapping Moggie no matter how bad things get at glanford park."UP THE IRON"!!!”
by 1500club, Lincs
Thursday, January 20 2011, 12:11PM
“Ha Ha!
I figured that with Mincey posting a link to 'viewpoint', it would lead me to a stiff yet insightful letter to the SET...did you really handwrite that, pay for a stamp, walk to a post box, post it, then buy the paper everyday before logging online at 9.58am and providing a link?
HA HA HA!
What is it this afternoon? Licking windows in Poundstretcher?
HA HA HA!
People - IF YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG, BOO THE BOARD BOO THEM ALL GAME LONG, DO NOT ACCEPT THIS - we all back the team, no one has ever booed anything worthwhile and by applauding medicrity you are giving the thumbs up to selling all our assets, not re-investing in the squad and a big pat on the back for not even offering GP a lick of paint in 22 years...you JOKERS are the root cause of all that is wrong in football and at SUFC.
Up the Iron - always 100% behind the team and 0% behind the board.”
by Oscar O'Moggie, Brigg
Thursday, January 20 2011, 10:59AM
“Mincey, have read the letter and agree with it 100% but it won't be long before the usual suspects start slagging it off.
Okay the team is struggling and we can't sign a striker but at least the fans can do their bit.
Can't see many watching in pubs though, most in Scunny only watch Man Utd or Liverpool.
Get behind the team.”
by Mincey, Scunthorpe
Thursday, January 20 2011, 9:58AM
“Not many people click the "Viewpoint" tab so here's a link to a letter featured in todays SET,
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/viewpoint/United-victims-success/article-3121394-detail/article.html”